Human serum albumin mutant

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are a human serum albumin mutant that can be linked to a physiologically active protein to increase the stability of the protein in the blood, as well as a resulting protein produced by linking with the mutant. The protein produced by linking with the mutant consists of a human serum albumin mutant comprising the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:3 or an amino acid sequence that, in comparison with it, lacks not more than 10 amino acid residues and/or has not more than 10 amino acid residues replaced, with the proviso that the asparagine residue occurring at position 318 and the threonine at position 320 from the N-terminus of the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:3 are preserved and linked by peptide bonds via a single amino acid residue (X) except proline placed between those two amino acid residues, and a physiologically active protein linked to the mutant.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a novel human serum albumin mutant that can be linked to a physiologically active protein to increase the stability of the protein in the blood, as well as to a human serum albumin mutant-linked protein (HSA mutant-linked protein) prepared by linking the human serum albumin mutant to a physiologically active protein, such as human serum albumin mutant-linked human growth hormone.

BACKGROUND ART

Human serum albumin (HSA) is a protein whose mature form consists of 585 amino acids. HSA is the most abundant component of plasma proteins, having a long half-life of 14-21 days in the plasma. HSA contributes to adjustment of osmotic pressure of the plasma, and functions to bind to, and carry, intrinsic compounds such as cations, fatty acids, hormones, bilirubin, and the like as well as extrinsic ones like medicines in the blood. In general, compounds bound to HSA become less likely to be absorbed by organs, and thus can circulate for a longer time in the blood.

Human serum albumin (HSA) is known to have plural natural variants. Human serum albumin Redhill is one of them (Non-patent documents 1 and 2). In comparison with the amino acid sequence of the common human serum albumin consisting of 585 amino acids as mentioned above, human serum albumin Redhill differs in that alanine as the 320th amino acid residue from the N-terminus is replaced with threonine, and that one arginine residue is added to the N-terminus, and it thus consists of 586 amino acids. This replacement of alanine with threonine give rise to a sequence Asn-Tyr-Thr within the amino acid sequence of albumin Redhill, and this Asn (asparagine) residue in that sequence receives N-glycosylation. Thus, the molecular weight of albumin Redhill is observed to be greater than the above common human serum albumin by approximately 2.5 kDa.

There is reported a method to increase the stability of a protein, such as an enzyme, in plasma by fusing HSA with the protein (Non-patent document 3, Patent documents 1 and 2). A fusion protein made of HSA and an enzyme or the like is provided in a medium or within cells as a recombinant protein, by culturing transformant cells produced by introducing an expression vector carrying a DNA in which a gene encoding HSA and a gene encoding a protein, e.g., an enzyme, are linked in frame.

Examples of proteins whose stability in plasma is increased by fusion with human serum albumin (HSA) include a fusion protein of HSA with G-CSF (Patent documents 1 and 3), a fusion protein of HSA with interferon α (Patent document 4), a fusion protein of HSA with GLP-1 (Patent document 5), a fusion protein of HSA with insulin (Patent document 6), a fusion protein of HSA with erythropoietin (Patent document 7), a fusion protein of HSA with growth hormone (Patent documents 4, 5 and 8-11), and the like.

Human growth hormone (hGH) is a protein secreted from the anterior pituitary under the control of hypothalamus. Human GH exhibits growth-promoting activities such as promotion of cartilage formation, promotion of protein anabolism, and the like, as well as improvement of body composition and lipid metabolism. Children with low hGH secretion exhibit growth hormone deficiency dwarfism, which is characterized by low height compared with normal children.

Pharmaceutical preparations (hGH preparation) containing hGH as the active principle, which is prepared as a recombinant protein utilizing E. coli cells with an introduced hGH gene and has molecular weight of approximately 22 kD, are clinically used widely as a therapeutic drug for growth hormone deficiency dwarfism, dwarfism in Turner syndrome, dwarfism in SGA (Small-for-Gestational Age), dwarfism by chronic renal failure, dwarfism in Prader-Willi syndrome, and dwarfism in achondroplasia, accompanied by no epiphyseal closure. After subcutaneous or intramuscular administration of an hGH preparation, it circulates in the blood, and its growth-promoting activity promotes growth of the patient. Preparations containing hGH are clinically used widely also as a therapeutic drug for adult growth hormone deficiency. Patients with adult growth hormone deficiency show various abnormalities such as abnormal lipid metabolism, and administration of hGH preparation will bring about improved QOL of the patients through, e.g., normalization of patients' lipid metabolism. Growject™, e.g., is available as an hGH preparation for growth hormone deficiency dwarfism and adult growth hormone deficiency.

Those attempts to improve stability of hGH in plasma were made in response to clinical needs. The half-life of hGH in plasma is regarded to be less than 20 minutes, and hGH administered to a patient thus quickly disappears from the blood. For hGH to exhibit its pharmacological activity in a patient, therefore, it must be administered to the patient either three times a week intramuscularly or everyday subcutaneously. Such frequent administration imposes a burden on patients. So, reduction of administration frequency, if achieved by increasing the stability of hGH in plasma and thereby elongating its half-life in plasma, would be desirable as leading to reduction of patients' burden.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS Patent Documents

-   [Patent document 1] Patent application publication No. JP H07-503368 -   [Patent document 2] Patent application publication No. JP H03-178998 -   [Patent document 3] Patent application publication No. JP H07-503844 -   [Patent document 4] Patent application publication No. JP     2003-503838 -   [Patent document 5 Patent application publication No. JP 2005-514060 -   [Patent document 6] Patent application publication No. JP     2010-500031 -   [Patent document 7] Patent application publication No. JP     2011-015690 -   [Patent document 8] Patent application publication No. JP     2000-502901 -   [Patent document 9] Patent application publication No. JP     2008-518615 -   [Patent document 10] Patent application publication No. JP     2013-501036 -   [Patent document 11] Patent application publication No. JP     2013-518038

Non-Patent Documents

-   [Non-Patent Document 1] Brand S. et al., Clin Chim Acta. 136,     197-202 (1984) -   [Non-Patent Document 2] Brennan S O. et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA.     87, 26-30 (1990) -   [Non-Patent Document 3] Poznansky M J. et al., FEBS Letter. 239,     18-22 (1988)

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

Against the above background, an objective of the present invention is to provide a novel human serum albumin mutant that can increase the stability of a desirable physiologically active protein (herein also called “protein (A)”) in the blood when linked to the physiologically active protein. Another objective of the present invention is to provide a human serum albumin mutant-linked protein comprising a desirable protein (e.g., growth hormone) and the human serum albumin mutant linked thereto. Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a method to increase the stability of a desirable protein in the blood by linking the protein to the human serum albumin mutant.

Solution to Problem

As a result of repeated investigations in the study for the above-mentioned purposes, the inventors of the present invention found that a compound (human serum albumin mutant-linked hGH) that is obtained by linking human growth hormone (hGH) with a mutant (human serum albumin mutant) which consists of an amino acid sequence whose amino acid residue at position 320 from its N terminus is substituted by threonine instead of arginine occurring in the ordinary human serum albumin consisting of 585 amino acids, exhibits remarkably higher stability in the blood than the original human growth hormone when administered to a living body, and completed the present invention after further investigation. Thus, the present invention provides what follows.

1. A human serum albumin mutant comprising an amino acid sequence that, in comparison with the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:3, lacks not more than 10 amino acid residues and/or has not more than 10 amino acid residues replaced, with the proviso that the asparagine residue occurring at position 318 and the threonine at position 320 from the N-terminus of the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:3 are preserved and linked by peptide bonds via a single amino acid residue (X) except proline that is placed between those two amino acid residues.

2. The human serum albumin mutant according to 1 above, wherein the amino acid (X) is tyrosine.

3. The human serum albumin mutant according to 2 above consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:3.

4. A human serum albumin mutant that, in comparison with the amino acid sequence of the human serum albumin mutant according to one of 1-3 above, has not more than 10 amino acid added outside of the region corresponding to positions 318-320 from the N terminus of the amino acid sequence set for the as SEQ ID NO:3, and is not identical to the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:2

5. A human serum albumin mutant having not more than 10 amino acid residues added to the N or C terminus in comparison with the amino acid sequence of the human serum albumin mutant according to one of 1-3 above, and not identical to the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:2.

6. A human serum albumin mutant-linked protein (A) comprising a first polypeptide chain comprising the amino acid sequence of the human serum albumin mutant according to one of 1-5 above and a second polypeptide chain linked thereto comprising the amino acid sequence of another protein (A).

7. The human serum albumin mutant-linked protein (A) according to 6 above, wherein

(a) the C-terminus the second polypeptide chain is linked to the N-terminus of the first polypeptide chain or

(b) the N-terminus of the second polypeptide chain is linked to the C-terminus of the first polypeptide by one or more peptide bonds.

8. The human serum albumin mutant-linked protein according to 7 above, wherein the link via peptide bonds includes peptide bonds with a linker.

9. The human serum albumin mutant-linked protein (A) according to 8 above, wherein the linker consists of 1-50 amino acid residues.

10. The human serum albumin mutant-linked protein (A) according to 8 above, wherein the linker consists of 1-6 amino acid residues.

11. The human serum albumin mutant-linked protein (A) according to 8 above, wherein the linker is selected from the group consisting of Gly-Ser, Gly-Gly-Ser, and the amino acid sequences set forth as SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5 and SEQ ID NO:6.

12. The human serum albumin mutant-linked protein (A) according to 8 above, wherein the linker is represented by the amino acid sequence Gly-Ser.

13. The human serum albumin mutant-linked protein (A) according to one of 6-12 above, wherein the protein (A) exhibits a physiological activity when administered to a living body.

14. The human serum albumin mutant-linked protein (A) according to one of 6-13 above, wherein the protein (A) is selected from the group consisting of lysosomal enzymes including α-L-iduronidase, iduronate-2-sulfatase, glucocerebrosidase, β-galactosidase, GM2 activator protein, β-hexosaminidase A, β-hexosaminidase B, N-acetylglucosamin-1-phosphotransferase, α-mannosidase, β-mannosidase, galactosylceramidase, saposin C, arylsulfatase A, α-L-fucosidase, aspartylglucosaminidase, α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase, acid sphingomyelinase, α-galactosidase, β-glucuronidase, heparan sulfate N-sulfatase, α-N-acetylglucosaminidase, acetyl-CoA: α-glucosaminide N-acetyltransferase, N-acetylglucosamin-6-sulfate sulfatase, acid ceramidase, amylo-1,6-glucosidase, and CLN1 to 10, PD-1 ligands, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), insulin, prolactin, motilin, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH), thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), parathyroid hormone (PTH), thrombopoietin, stem cell factor (SCF), leptin, vasopressin, oxytocin, calcitonin, glucagon, gastrin, secretin, pancreozymin, cholecystokinin, angiotensin, angiostatin, endostatin, human placental lactogen (HPL), human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), enkephalin, endorphin, interferon α, interferon β, interferon γ, interleukin 2, thymopoietin, thymostimulin, thymus humoral factor (THF), serum thymic factor (FTS), thymosin, thymic factor X, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), urokinase, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), dynorphin, bombesin, neurotensin, caerulein, bradykinin, asparaginase, kallikrein, substance P, nerve growth factor (NGF), ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial cell derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), neurotrophin 3, neurotrophin 4/5, neurotrophin 6, neuregulin 1, activin, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), megakaryocyte growth and development factor (MGDF), blood coagulation factor VII, blood coagulation factor VIII, blood coagulation factor IX, superoxide dismutase (SOD), lysozyme chloride, polymyxin B, colistin, gramicidin, bacitracin, gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), growth hormone releasing factor (GRF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), erythropoietin, somatostatin, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), 20K growth hormone, 22K growth hormone, and a salt or mutant of thereof.

15. The human serum albumin mutant-linked protein (A) according to one of 6-12 above, wherein the protein (A) is 22K growth hormone.

16. The human serum albumin mutant-linked protein (A) according to one of 6-12 above, wherein the protein (A) is 20K growth hormone.

17. The human serum albumin mutant-linked protein (A) according to 15 above consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:11.

18. The human serum albumin mutant-linked protein (A) according to 16 above consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:12.

19. A medicament comprising a human serum albumin mutant-linked protein (A) according to one of 6-18 above as the active principle.

20. The medicament comprising a human serum albumin mutant-linked protein (A) according to 19 above for the treatment of a disorder selected from the group consisting of growth hormone deficiency dwarfism, dwarfism in Turner syndrome, dwarfism by chronic renal failure, dwarfism in Prader-Willi syndrome, dwarfism in achondroplasia, and dwarfism in SGA, accompanied by no epiphyseal closure; and adult growth hormone deficiency, consumption caused by AIDS, and consumption caused by anorexia.

21. A DNA comprising a gene encoding the human serum albumin mutant according to one of 1-5 above.

22. A DNA comprising a gene encoding the human serum albumin mutant-linked protein (A) according to one of 6-18 above.

23. An expression vector comprising the DNA according to 21 or 22 above.

24. A mammalian cell transformed with the vector according to 23 above.

25. A human serum albumin mutant or human serum albumin mutant-linked protein (A) obtainable by culturing the mammalian cell according to 24 above in a serum-free medium.

Effects of Invention

The present invention enables increased stability in blood of a desirable physiologically active protein as a medicament to be administered to an animal (including human). Thus, it can enhance the pharmacological effects of the physiologically active protein and prolong the duration of pharmacological effect of the protein, too. Furthermore, it thereby makes it possible to lessen the dose or dosing frequency of the physiologically active protein, improve the QOL of the patients, and also contribute to prevention of infection and medical accident coming from conventional frequent dosing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 A flow diagram of the method for construction of pE-neo vector.

FIG. 2 A flow diagram of the method for construction of pE-hygr vector.

FIG. 3-1 A flow diagram of the method for construction of pE-IRES-GS-puro.

FIG. 3-2 A flow diagram of the method for construction of pE-IRES-GS-puro.

FIG. 3-3 A flow diagram of the method for construction of pE-IRES-GS-puro.

FIG. 3-4 A flow diagram of the method for construction of pE-IRES-GS-puro.

FIG. 3-5 A flow diagram of the method for construction of pE-IRES-GS-puro.

FIG. 3-6 A flow diagram of the method for construction of pE-IRES-GS-puro.

FIG. 3-7 A flow diagram of the method for construction of pE-IRES-GS-puro.

FIG. 3-8 A flow diagram of the method for construction of pE-IRES-GS-puro.

FIG. 3-9 A flow diagram of the method for construction of pE-IRES-GS-puro.

FIG. 4 A flow diagram of the method for construction of pE-mIRES-GS-puro.

FIG. 5 A figure showing the result of measurement of the activity of HSA-hGH fusion protein on cell growth activity using BaF3/hGHR cells. The vertical axis denotes absorbance at 490 nm, and the horizontal axis the concentration (nM) of each test sample. The vertical bars show standard deviation.

FIG. 6 A graph showing the result of pharmacodynamic analysis of HSA-hGH fusion protein using cynomolgus monkeys. The vertical axis denotes the concentration (ng/mL) of HSA-hGH fusion protein in cynomolgus monkeys' plasma, and the horizontal axis elapsed time (hr) after the administration of HSA-hGH fusion protein. The vertical bars in the graph show standard deviation.

FIG. 7 A graph showing the result of analysis of pharmacological effect of HSA-hGH fusion protein using cynomolgus monkeys. The vertical axis denotes the concentration (%) of IGF-1 in plasma of cynomolgus monkeys after administration of HSA-hGH fusion protein as compared to its concentration before the administration, and the horizontal axis denotes elapsed time (day) after the administration of HSA-hGH fusion protein. The vertical bars in the graph show standard deviation.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the present invention, the term “human serum albumin” or “HSA” simply referred to does not only mean the ordinary wild-type human serum albumin consisting of 585 amino acid residues set forth as SEQ ID NO:1 but also includes without differentiation, such HSA mutants as correspond to those produced by substitution, deletion, and/or addition of one or more amino acid residues in, from, or to, the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:1 (in the specification, the term “addition” means one or more residues being added to a terminus of or within the sequence), so long as they still have such common functions of ordinary wild-type human serum albumin as binding to and carrying intrinsic compounds as well as extrinsic compounds, e.g., drugs, in the blood. When substituting some amino acid residues by different amino acid residues, the number of amino acid residues to be substituted is preferably 1-10, more preferably 1-5, and still more preferably 1-3. When deleting some amino acid residues, the number of amino acid residues to be deleted is preferably 1-10, more preferably 1-5, and still more preferably 1-3. A mutant, for example, consisting of 584 amino acid residues produced by deletion of one amino acid residue from the N or C terminus of the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:1 also is included in the meaning of human serum albumin. Further, a combination of such substitution and deletion of amino acids may also be made. Furthermore, one or more amino acid residues may be added to the ordinary wild-type HSA or its mutant, within those amino acid sequences or to their N or C terminus (the term “addition” means one or more residues being added to the terminus of or within a sequence). The number of amino acid residues herein added is preferably 1-10, more preferably 1-5, and still more preferably 1-3.

As a HSA mutant which contains a combination of at least two of the above three different types of mutation, i.e., substitution, deletion, and addition, preferred is one produced by deletion of 0-10 amino acid residues, substitution of 0-10 amino acid residues with other ones, and further addition of 0-10 amino acid residues. More preferably, the number of amino acid residues deleted, substituted and/or added from, in, or to, the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:1 is preferably not more than 5, and more preferably not more than 3, respectively.

In the present invention, the term “human serum albumin Redhill” (HSA-Redhill) means a variant of human serum albumin consisting of 586 amino acid residues set forth as SEQ ID NO:2. Compared to the wild-type human serum albumin consisting of 585 amino acid residues set forth as SEQ ID NO:1, human serum albumin Redhill has a sequence in which the amino acid at position 320 from the N terminus is not alanine but threonine, and one arginine residue is added to the N terminus. As a result of the substitution of alanine by threonine, albumin Redhill contains a partial amino acid sequence, Asn-Tyr-Thr, within its whole amino acid sequence, and the Asn (asparagine) residue in this partial sequence receives N-linked glycosylation. Thus, albumin Redhill is observed as having a molecular weight greater by 2.5 kD than the ordinary wild-type albumin (SEQ ID NO:1).

In the present invention, the term “human serum albumin mutant” (HSA mutant) means one of the above-mentioned mutants compared to the wild-type HSA (SEQ ID NO:1) except the variant (HSA Redhill) set forth as SEQ ID NO:2. Preferred HSA mutants in the present invention include one set forth as SEQ ID NO:3 as well as those having an amino acid sequence produced by substitution, deletion or addition of one or more amino acid residues as compared to the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:3, and in which the asparagine residue at position 318 and the threonine residue at position 320 from the N terminus of the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:3 are preserved being linked by peptide bonds via a single amino acid residue (X) except proline between those two, so long as they still have the function of the ordinary wild-type human serum albumin, i.e., binding to and carrying intrinsic compounds as well as extrinsic compounds, e.g., drugs, in the blood. When substituting some amino acid residues in the amino acid sequence by other ones, the number of amino acid residues to be substituted is preferably 1-10, more preferably 1-5, and still more preferably 1-3. When deleting some amino acid residues, the number of amino acid residues to be deleted is preferably 1-10, more preferably 1-5, and still more preferably 1-3. For example, a mutant may consist of 584 amino acid residues in which the amino acid residue at the N or C terminus of the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:3 is deleted. A combination of such substitution and deletion of amino acid residues is also allowed. Further, one or more amino acid residues may be added to those mutant within, or at the N or C terminus of, their amino acid sequences. Thus, in comparison to the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:3, the mutants may be those produced by a combination of at least two of the three types of mutation, i.e., substitution, deletion and addition, where deletion of 0-10 amino acid sequences, substitution of 0-10 amino acid residues by other ones, and addition of 0-10 amino acid residues have been made. Notwithstanding, the amino acids at positions 318-320 from the N terminus of the amino acid sequence set forth SEQ ID NO:3 must be asparagine-X-threonine (“X” is an amino acid residue except proline), and is preferably asparagine-tyrosine-threonine.

The positions and types (deletion, substitution, addition) of mutation in various HSA mutants of the present invention as compared to the ordinary wild-type HSA can be readily identified by alignment of the amino acid sequences of both HSAs.

The human serum albumin mutant prepared in the example of the present invention set forth below (a typical example of HSA mutant of the present invention) differs from the amino acid sequence of the ordinary wild-type human serum albumin consisting of 585 amino acids (SEQ ID NO:1) only in that the amino acid residue at position 320 from its N terminus is not alanine but threonine (SEQ ID NO:3). This difference gives rise to a partial sequence, Asn-Tyr-Thr, within the amino acid sequence of the HSA mutant [HSA(A320T)], and the Asn (asparagine residue) in the partial sequence can undergo N-linked glycosylation.

The HSA mutant of the present invention can be produced as a recombinant protein, by preparing an expression vector in which a DNA encoding the HSA mutant of the present invention is incorporated, and culturing host cells transformed with the expression vector.

In the present invention, a counterpart physiologically active protein (referred to also as “protein (A))” in the specification) to be linked to the human serum albumin mutant is any protein except serum albumin (whether it is a mutant or not) having a physiological activity. The term “physiological activity” is an ability of acting on a living body to cause some specific physiological change. Examples include those proteins involved in different physiological regulations (stimulation, suppression), such as various enzymes (e.g., lysosomal enzymes), peptide hormones (protein hormones), neurotransmitters, growth factors, signal transduction factors, etc.

In the present invention, the term “human serum albumin mutant-linked protein (A)” or “HSA mutant-linked protein (A)” means a protein (A) to which the HSA mutant of the present invention is linked, a compound obtained by linking the polypeptides having the amino acid sequence of one of the two, respectively. The phrase “to “link” those polypeptides” not only means that the N terminus of the one is directly bonded to the C terminus of the other by a peptide bond, but also includes bonding of them indirectly via a linker.

Herein, the term “linker” is a structural portion that is placed between the above two polypeptides and links them by covalent bonds, and is not one derived from the termini either of the HSA mutant of the present invention or of its counterpart protein (A). A linker may be a single amino acid residue or a peptide chain portion consisting of two or more amino acid residues forming peptide bonds with both of the polypeptides (peptide linker). Any of such linkers consisting of one or more amino acids are referred to comprehensively as a “peptide linker” in the present specification. In the present invention, a linker also may be a structural portion that is a divalent group not belonging to a peptide linker but linking the HSA mutant and a protein (A) between them by covalent bonds. They are referred to as a “non-peptide linker” in the specification. Further, in the present specification, the expression stating that a HSA mutant and a protein (A) are linked “via peptide bonds” includes a case where the both are linked directly by a peptide bond and a case where the both are linked via a peptide linker. Furthermore, in the case where the HSA mutant and a protein (A) is bonded together directly or via a peptide linker, the compound “HSA mutant-linked protein (A)” is also referred to as “HSA mutant-fused protein (A)”.

Where the HSA mutant of the present invention and a protein (A) are linked via a peptide linker, the linker consists of preferably 1-50, more preferably 1-17, still preferably 1-10, still more preferably 1-6 amino acid residues, and, for example, 2-17, 2-10, 10-40, 20-34, 23-31, or 25-29 amino acids, and further, one single amino acid residue, or 2, 3, 5, 6 or 20 amino acid residues. So long as the HSA mutant portion linked by the peptide linker retains the HSA's function and the protein (A) portion can exhibit its physiological activity of the protein (A) in a physiological environment, there is no limitation as to an amino acid or amino acid sequence forming the peptide linker, while it is preferably composed of glycine and serine. Preferable examples of a peptide linker include those consisting of Gly-Ser, Gly-Gly-Ser, Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Ser (SEQ ID NO:4), Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Ser (SEQ ID NO:5), Ser-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly (SEQ ID NO:6), and linkers comprising some these amino acid sequences. A sequence comprising 2-10 or 2-5 consecutively linked copies of any one of those amino acid sequences may be employed as a peptide linker, and a sequence comprising 1-10 or 2-5 consecutively linked copies of any combination of two or more of these amino acid sequencers may also be employed as a peptide linker. Examples of preferred peptide linkers comprising a combination of two or more of those amino acids include amino acid sequence comprising 20 amino acids in total consisting of an amino acid sequence Gly-Ser followed by three consecutively linked copies of an amino acid sequence Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Ser (SEQ ID NO:5).

As a method for linking two different polypeptides, there is known a common method, for example, in which an expression vector is prepared having an incorporated DNA produced by linking, downstream of the gene encoding one of the polypeptides, the gene encoding the other polypeptide in-frame, and host cells transformed with this expression vector are cultured to let them express the recombinant fusion protein. Such a method can be used for the present invention.

In the case where HSA mutant-fused protein (A) is produced as a recombinant protein by transformant cells, a fusion protein is obtained in which a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of protein (A) is linked to the N or C terminus of a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of an HSA mutant.

In the case where a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of protein (A) is linked to the N terminus of a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of an HSA mutant, an expression vector is employed having an incorporated DNA in which the gene encoding the amino acid sequence of the HSA mutant is linked in-frame downstream of the gene encoding the amino acid sequence of protein (A). Where the two polypeptides are linked indirectly via a peptide linker, the DNA encoding the linker is inserted in-frame between the genes encoding the respective two proteins.

In the case where a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of protein (A) is linked to the C terminus of a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence an HSA mutant, an expression vector is employed having an incorporated DNA in which the gene encoding the amino acid sequence of the HSA mutant is linked in-frame upstream of the gene encoding the amino acid sequence of protein (A). Where the two polypeptides are linked indirectly via a peptide linker, the DNA encoding the linker is inserted in-frame between the genes encoding the respective two proteins.

To let host cells produce the HSA mutant or a HSA mutant-fused protein (A), an expression vector having an incorporated DNA encoding either of them is introduced into the host cells. So long as they can produce the HSA mutant or a HSA mutant-fused protein (A) of the present invention through introduction of such an expression vector, there is no notable limitation as to host cells that may be employed for this purpose, and thus they may be either eukaryotic cells such as mammalian cells, yeast, plant cells, and insect cells or prokaryotic cells such as E. coli, Bacillus subtilis, among which particularly preferred are mammalian cells. For a protein (A) to be expressed in a glycosylated form, host cells are selected from the groups consisting of eukaryotic cells such as mammalian cells, yeast, plant cells, and insect cells. The Asn residue in the partial sequence Asn-Tyr-Thr that arises by replacement of the amino acid residue at position 320 of the ordinary wild-type HSA with threonine, or the Asn residue in a partial sequencer Asn-X-Thr (“X” is an amino acid sequence other than proline), undergoes N-linked glycosylation by employing eukaryotic cells for expression of HSA mutant-fused protein (A).

Though there is no notable limitation as to the species of mammalian cells to be employed as host cells, preferred are cells derived from human, mouse, and Chinese hamster, among which CHO cells, which are derived from Chinese hamster ovary cells, or NS/O cells, which are derived from mouse myeloma are particularly preferred. So long as it will lead to expression of the gene in mammalian cells into which it is introduced, there is no notable limitation as to an expression vector employed in which a DNA fragment encoding the HSA mutant or a HSA mutant-fused protein (A) of the present invention is incorporated for expression. The gene introduced into an expression vector is placed downstream of a DNA sequence that regulates the frequency of transcription of the gene in mammalian cells (gene expression regulatory site). Examples of a gene expression regulatory site which can be employed in the present invention include a Cytomegalovirus-derived promoter, SV40 early promoter, human elongation factor-1α (EF-1α) promoter, and human ubiquitin C promoter.

While mammalian cells having such an introduced expression vector come to produce the protein incorporated in the expression vector, the amount of its expression will vary cell by cell and will not be uniform. For efficient production of the HSA mutant, or an HSA mutant-fused protein (A), of the present invention, therefore, a step is required in which the cells exhibiting high expression level are selected from the mammalian cells having the introduced expression vector. For carrying out such a selection step, a gene acting as a selection marker is introduced in the expression vector.

The most common of such selection markers are enzymes that decompose drugs such as puromycin and neomycin (drug resistance marker). In general, mammalian cells will be killed by one of those drugs that is present beyond certain concentrations. Since cells having an introduced expression vector in which a drug resistance gene is incorporated can decompose the drug with the expressed drug resistance gene to detoxify it or attenuate its toxicity, they can survive even in the presence of such drugs. By introducing into mammalian cells of an expression vector having an incorporated drug resistance gene as a selection marker, and then culturing the cells in a medium with a gradually increasing concentration of the drug corresponding to the drug resistance marker, such cells can be obtained that are able to grow even in the presence of higher concentrations of the drug. In cells selected in this manner, generally, expression levels of the gene encoding that protein of interest incorporated in the expression vector are also elevated along with those of the drug resistance marker, and as a result those cells are selected which express the protein at high levels.

Further, glutamine synthetase (GS) can also be used as a selection marker. Glutamine synthetase is an enzyme which synthesizes glutamine from glutamic acid and ammonia. Generally, if mammalian cells are cultured in a medium which contains an inhibitor of glutamine synthetase, e.g., methionine sulfoximine (MSX), yet no glutamine, the cells will be annihilated. However, if mammalian cells have an introduced expression vector in which glutamine synthetase is incorporated as a selection marker, the cells become able to grow even in the presence of higher concentrations of MSX because of their increased levels of glutamine synthetase expression. Here, if culture is continued with gradually increasing concentration of MSX, such cells are obtained that can grow even in the presence of still higher concentrations of MSX. Generally, in cells selected by this way, expression levels of the gene encoding that protein of interest incorporated in the expression vector are also elevated along with those of the drug resistance marker, and as a result those cells are selected which express the protein at high levels.

Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) can also be used as a selection marker. In the case where DHFR is employed as a selection marker, mammalian cells having the introduced expression vector is cultured in a selection medium containing a DHFR inhibitor such as methotrexate or aminopterin. Culture continued with gradually increasing concentration of a DHFR inhibitor give rise to such cells that can grow even in the presence of higher concentrations of the DHFR inhibitor. Generally, in cells selected in this manner, expression levels of the gene encoding that protein of interest incorporated in the expression vector are also elevated along with those of DHFR, and as a result those cells are selected which express the protein at high levels.

Expression vector are known in which glutamine synthetase (GS) is placed as a selection marker downstream of the gene encoding a protein of interest via an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) (WO 2012/063799, WO 2013/161958). The expression vectors described in these documents may be used particularly preferably in producing the HSA mutant or HSA mutant-fused protein (A) of the present invention.

For example, an expression vector for expression of a protein of interest which comprises a first gene expression regulatory site, a gene encoding the protein downstream thereof, an internal ribosome entry site further downstream thereof, and a gene encoding glutamine synthetase still further downstream thereof, and further comprises dihydrofolate reductase gene or a drug resistance gene either downstream of the first gene regulatory site or downstream of a different, second gene expression regulatory site, can be preferably used in producing the HSA mutant or a HSA mutant-fused protein (A) of the present invention. In this vector, a cytomegalovirus-derived promoter, SV40 early promoter, and human elongation factor-1α promoter (hEF-1α promoter), and human ubiquitin C promoter are preferably used as the first gene expression regulatory site or the second gene expression regulatory site, among which hEF-1α promoter is particularly preferred.

Further, as an internal ribosome entry site, preferably used is one of those derived from the 5′ untranslated region of the genome of a virus selected from the group consisting of a virus of Picornaviridae, Picornaviridae Aphthovirus, hepatitis A virus, hepatitis C virus, coronavirus, bovine enterovirus, Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus, Coxsackie B virus, or of a gene selected from the group consisting of human immunoglobulin heavy chain binding protein gene, Drosophila antennapedia gene, and Drosophila ultrabithorax gene, among which particularly preferable is the internal ribosome entry site derived from the 5′ untranslated region of mouse encephalomyocarditis virus. In the case where the 5′ untranslated region of the genome of mouse encephalomyocarditis virus is used, not only its wild-type but also those in which some of the plural start codons included in the wile-type internal ribosome entry sites are destroyed can preferably be employed. The drug resistance gene employed in the expression vector of the present invention is preferably puromycin or neomycin resistance gene, and more preferably puromycin resistance gene.

Furthermore, for example, an expression vector for expression of a protein of interest which comprises human elongation factor-1α promoter, a gene encoding the protein downstream thereof, and an internal ribosome entry site derived from the 5′ untranslated region of the genome of mouse encephalomyocarditis virus further downstream thereof, and further comprises another gene expression regulatory site and dihydrofolate reductase gene downstream thereof, wherein the internal ribosome entry site is one in which some of the plural start codons included in the wile-type internal ribosome entry sites are destroyed, can preferably be employed in producing the HSA mutant or an HSA mutant-fused protein (A) of the present invention. An example of such a vector is one described in WO 2013/161958.

Still further, for example, an expression vector for expression of a protein of interest which comprises human elongation factor-1α promoter, a gene encoding the protein downstream thereof, an internal ribosome entry site derived from the 5′ untranslated region of the genome of mouse encephalomyocarditis virus further downstream thereof, and a gene encoding glutamine synthetase still further downstream thereof, and further comprises another gene expression regulatory site and a drug resistance gene downstream thereof, wherein the internal ribosome entry site is one in which some of the plural start codons included in the wile-type internal ribosome entry sites are destroyed, can preferably be employed in producing the HSA mutant or an HSA mutant-fused protein (A). Examples of such a vector are pE-mIRES-GS-puro described in WO 2012/063799 and pE-mIRES-GS-mNeo described in WO 2013/161958.

There are three start codons (ATG) at the 3′ end of the internal ribosome entry site derived from the 5′ untranslated region of the wild-type genome of mouse encephalomyocarditis virus. The partial sequences containing those three start codons is shown as SEQ ID NO:7 (5′-ATGataatATGgccacaaccATG-3′: the start codon ATG is shown in upper case letters). An example in which one of the start codons in this sequence is destroyed is one set forth as SEQ ID NO:8 (5′-atgataagcttgccacaaccatg-3′), and pE-mIRES-GS-puro and pE-mIRES-GS-mNeo above mentioned are expression vectors having IRES comprising the sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:8.

In the present invention, mammalian cells having an introduced expression vector in which a DNA fragment encoding the HSA mutant or an HSA mutant-fused protein (A) of the present invention are subjected to selective culture in a selection medium to select cells showing high levels of their expression.

In the case where DHFR is used as a selection marker in selective culture, the concentration of a DHFR inhibitor in the selection medium is increased stepwise. The maximum concentration of it, where the DHFR inhibitor is methotrexate, is preferably 0.25-5 μM, more preferably 0.5-1.5 μM, and still more preferably about 1.0 μM.

In the case where GS is employed as the selection marker, the concentration of a GS inhibitor in the selection medium is increased stepwise. The maximum concentration of it, where the GS inhibitor is MSX, is preferably 100-1000 μM, more preferably 200-500 μM, and still more preferably about 300 μM. As a selection medium, a medium containing no glutamine is generally employed here.

In the case where an enzyme that decomposes puromycin is employed as a selection marker, the maximum concentration of puromycin in the selection medium is preferably 3-30 μg/mL, more preferably 5-20 μg/mL, and still more preferably about 10 μg/mL.

In the case where an enzyme that decomposes neomycin is employed as a selection marker, the maximum concentration of G418 in the selection medium is preferably 0.1-2 mg/mL, more preferably 0.5-1.5 mg/mL, and still more preferably about 1 mg/mL.

As a medium for culturing mammalian cells, either for selection culture or for production of the recombinant protein mentioned below (recombinant protein production medium), any medium may be used without notable limitation so long as it allows cultivation of mammalian cells to let them grow in it, and among them a serum-free medium is preferably employed. Because HSA has a property to adsorb components contained in the blood, if HSA is produced using a serum-containing medium, the HSA thus obtained would contain adsorbed blood-derived impurities, which would have to be removed in the following steps.

The HSA mutant or a HSA mutant-fused protein (A) of the present invention is obtained, in particular, by culturing cells that express either of them, in a serum-free medium. As employment of a serum free medium enables reduction of the amount of impurities adsorbed by HSA, it allows simplification of subsequent purification steps.

The cells selected by selection culture showing high levels of expression of the recombinant protein (recombinant protein producing cells) are employed in the production of the recombinant protein. Production of the recombinant protein is performed by culturing the recombinant protein producing cells in a medium for recombinant protein production. This culture is called production culture.

In the present invention, as a serum-free medium employed for recombinant protein production, a medium is preferably used that contains, e.g., 3-700 mg/L of amino acids, 0.001-50 mg/L of vitamins, 0.3-10 g/L of monosaccharides, 0.1-10000 mg/L inorganic salts, 0.001-0.1 mg/L of trace elements, 0.1-50 mg/L of nucleosides, 0.001-10 mg/L of fatty acids, 0.01-1 mg/L of biotin, 0.1-20 μg/L of hydrocortisone, 0.1-20 mg/L of insulin, 0.1-10 mg/L of vitamin B12, 0.01-1 mg/L of putrescine, 10-500 mg/L of sodium pyruvate, and water soluble iron compounds. Thymidine, hypoxanthine, a conventional pH indicator and antibiotics may also be added to the medium.

As a serum-free medium for recombinant protein production, DMEM/F12 medium (mixture medium of DMEM and F12), well known to a skilled artisan, may be used as a base medium. Furthermore, as a serum-free medium, DMEM(HG)HAM modified (R5) medium may also be used, which contains sodium bicarbonate, L-glutamine, D-glucose, insulin, sodium selenite, diaminobutane, hydrocortisone, iron(II) sulfate, asparagine, aspartic acid, serine, and polyvinylalcohol. Further, commercially available serum-free mediums, such as CD OptiCHO™ medium, CHO-S-SFM II medium, or CD CHO medium (Thermo Fisher Scientific, formerly Life Technologies), IS cho-V™ medium (Irvine Scientific), EX-CELL™ 302 medium, or EX-CELL™ 325-PF medium (SAFC Biosciences), may be used, too, as a base medium.

To obtain an HSA mutant-fused protein (A), a method also may be employed in which both of the protein moieties are separately prepared, and their polypeptides then are linked via a non-peptide linker or a peptide linker. Examples of non-peptide linker that may be used include polyethylene glycol (PEG), polypropylene glycol, co-polymers of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, polyethers, polyvinylalcohol, polysaccharides, dextran, polyvinylether, biodegradable polymers, lipid polymers, chitins, and hyaluronic acid, or derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. A peptide linker is a peptide chain or its derivative composed of peptide bonded 1-50 amino acids, whose N and C termini are respectively peptide bonded either to the HSA mutant of the present invention or a protein of interest to link the HSA mutant of the present invention and the protein of interest.

A protein (A) linked with the HSA mutant of the present invention using PEG as a non-peptide linker is, where specifically identified, referred to as an HSA mutant PEG-linked protein (A). An HSA mutant PEG-linked protein (A) can be produced either by bonding the HSA mutant and PEG (PEGylated HSA mutant), and then bonding a protein (A) thereto or by bonding a protein (A) and PEG (PEGylated physiologically active protein (A)) at first, and then bonding the HSA mutant thereto. To bond PEG to the HSA mutant or a protein (A), such a PEG is used that is modified with functional groups such as carbonate, carbonyldiimidazole, an active ester of carbonic acid, azlactone, cyclic imide thione, isocyanate, isothiocyanate, imidate, or aldehyde. The HSA mutant of the present invention and a protein (A) are covalently bonded mainly through the reaction of one of those functional groups introduced into PEG with the amino group on the HSA mutant of the present invention and protein (A). Though there is no notable limitation as to the molecular weight of PEG employed here, its mean molecular weight (MW) is as follows: preferably MW=500-60000, and more preferably 500-20000. For example, PEG having mean molecular weight of about 300, about 500, about 1000, about 2000, about 4000, about 10000, or about 20000, and the like, can be preferably used as a non-peptide linker.

For example, a PEGylated HSA mutant can be obtained by mixing the HSA mutant of the present invention with polyethylene glycol having aldehyde groups as functional groups (ALD-PEG-ALD) at their molar ratio HSA/(ALD-PEG-ALD) of 11, 12.5, 15, 110, 120, or the like, and adding a reducing agent such as NaCNBH₃ to the mixture and allowing them to react. Then, by reacting the PEGylated HSA mutant with the protein (A) in the presence of a reducing agent like NaCNBH₃, a HSA mutant PEG-linked protein is obtained. Contrarily, a HSA mutant PEG-linked protein (A) of the present invention can also be obtained by bonding the protein (A) with ALD-PEG-ALD at first to prepare a PEGylated protein (A), and then bonding thereto the HSA mutant of the present invention.

A protein (A) to be linked to the HSA mutant of the present invention is preferably one of such proteins that exhibit some physiological activities when administered to a living body, and they may be chosen as desired. Examples of such proteins include, but is not limited to, α-L-iduronidase, iduronate-2-sulfatase, glucocerebrosidase, β-galactosidase, GM2 activator protein, β-hexosaminidase A, β-hexosaminidase B, N-acetylglucosamin-1-phosphotransferase, α-mannosidase, β-mannosidase, galactosylceramidase, saposin C, arylsulfatase A, α-L-fucosidase, aspartylglucosaminidase, α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase, acid sphingomyelinase, α-galactosidase, β-glucuronidase, heparan sulfate N-sulfatase, α-N-acetylglucosaminidase, acetyl-CoA: α-glucosaminide N-acetyltransferase, N-acetylglucosamin-6-sulfate sulfatase, acid ceramidase, amylo-1,6-glucosidase, lysosomal enzymes including CLN1-10, PD-1 ligands, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), insulin, prolactin, motilin, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH), thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), parathyroid hormone (PTH), thrombopoietin, stem cell factor (SCF), leptin, vasopressin, oxytocin, calcitonin, glucagon, gastrin, secretin, pancreozymin, cholecystokinin, angiotensin, angiostatin, endostatin, human placental lactogen (HPL), human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), enkephalin, endorphin, interferon α, interferon β, interferon γ, interleukin 2, thymopoietin, thymostimulin, thymus humoral factor (THF), serum thymic factor (FTS), thymosin, thymic factor X, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), urokinase, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), dynorphin, bombesin, neurotensin, caerulein, bradykinin, asparaginase, kallikrein, substance P, nerve growth factor (NGF), ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial cell derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), neurotrophin 3, neurotrophin 4/5, neurotrophin 6, neuregulin 1, activin, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), megakaryocyte growth and development factor (MGDF), blood coagulation factor VII, blood coagulation factor VIII, blood coagulation factor IX, superoxide dismutase (SOD), tissue plasminogen activator (TPA), lysozyme chloride, polymyxin B, colistin, gramicidin, bacitracin, gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), growth hormone releasing factor (GRF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), erythropoietin, somatostatin, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), 20K growth hormone, 22K growth hormone, and a salt or a mutant of them.

In the present invention, though there is no notable limitation as to the biological species from which a protein (A) to be linked to the HSA mutant originates, preferred are those originating from mammals, more preferably proteins originating from primates including human, African green monkey, rodents including mouse, rat, Chinese hamster, rabbit, dog, and more preferably proteins originating from human.

In the present invention, it is not necessary that a protein (A) is a wild-type protein. Namely, it may be a such mutant, with one or more amino acids substituted, deleted, and/or added as compared to the wild-type amino acid sequence, yet retaining the physiological activities of the original protein (A), or even acting as an antagonist to the wild-type protein (A) (thus exerting an influence on the activity of intrinsic protein (A)). The number of amino acids substituted, deleted, and/or added may be preferably 1-10, more preferably 1-5, and still more preferably 1-3, for each type of mutation. Such substitution, deletion, and/or addition may take place in combination.

The HSA mutant-linked protein (A) of the present invention has increased stability and thus a longer half-life in the blood than the original protein (A) with no linked HSA mutant. Though the half-life of it would vary depending on the route of administration and dose employed, it becomes very stable in the blood, as demonstrated by its half-life in the blood (t_(1/2)β) that is longer than about 5 hours after subcutaneous administration to cynomolgus monkeys. For example, the half-life in the blood (t_(1/2)β) of the HSA mutant-linked human growth hormone of the present invention is 5-40 hours after its single subcutaneous administration to male cynomolgus monkeys at a dose of 0.5-10 mg/kg.

The HSA mutant-linked protein (A) of the present invention can be used as a medicament utilizing the activity exhibited by the protein (A) moiety when administered to a living body. The term “living body” means a living body of mammals including human, and most preferably a human.

The HSA mutant-linked protein (A) of the present invention has increased stability in the blood. Therefore, even a protein (A) which is so unstable in the blood and rapidly decomposed after administration that could not exhibit a sufficient effect so far, can now be stabilized in the blood and allowed to exhibit its physiological activity, by linking it to the HSA mutant of the present invention, which gives rise to a possibility of its development as a medicament.

Even a protein (A) that could so far have been used as a medicament can be further improved in its stability in the blood by linking it to the HSA mutant of the present invention and thus can remain in the blood for a longer period of time, with its physiological activity maintained. This enables reduction of dosing frequency or the dose of the protein (A) itself. For example, the dosing frequency of a medicament which requires daily administration could be reduced to, e.g., once in 3-30 days by linking it to the HSA mutant of the present invention. Furthermore, the dose of the medicament could be reduced to 1/3-1/100, for example.

A medicament comprising the HSA mutant-linked protein (A) as the active principle can be administered intravenously, intramuscularly, intraperitoneally, or subcutaneously in the form of injection. The route of administration of the medicament may be chosen as desired, in accordance with its preparation form, disorders to be treated, and the like. Preparations for those injection routes may be supplied as lyophilized preparations or aqueous liquid ones. Such aqueous liquid preparations may be supplied in the form of vials containing it, or in a pre-filled type, where it has already been filled in syringes. Lyophilized preparations are reconstituted by dissolving them in an aqueous medium before use, and then administered.

Human growth hormone is one of those proteins (A) to be linked to the HSA mutant of the present invention. Human growth hormone includes two main types which differ from each other in their molecular weight, i.e., 22K human growth hormone and 20K human growth hormone. The 22K growth hormone is a protein consisting of 191 amino acids and having the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:9. Though the term “human growth hormone (or hGH)” generally means this 22K growth hormone, this term “human growth hormone (or hGH)” simply referred to in the present specification includes both the 22K human growth hormone and the 20K human growth hormone.

The term “22K human growth hormone (or “22K hGH)” simply referred to in the present specification includes, in addition to the wild-type 22K hGH having the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:9, such 22K hGH mutants having one or more amino acids substituted, deleted, and/or added as compared to the wild-type and yet having growth-promoting activity. The number of amino acids that may be substituted, deleted, and/or added is preferably 1-8, more preferably 1-4, and still more preferably 1-2, for each mutation type.

The wild-type 20K growth hormone is equivalent to the resultant of deletion of 15 amino acids at positions 32-46 from the N terminus of the 191 amino acids that forms the wild-type 22K growth hormone (SEQ ID NO:9), namely, a protein with growth-promoting activity consisting of an amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:10) that is composed of 176 amino acids. It should be noted that in the present specification, the term “20K human growth hormone (or 20K hGH)” simply referred to in the present specification includes, in addition to the wild-type 20K hGH set forth as SEQ ID NO:10, such 20K hGH mutants that correspond to those having one or more amino acids substituted, deleted, and/or added as compared to that sequence and yet having growth-promoting activity. The number of amino acids that may be substituted, deleted, and/or added is preferably 1-8, more preferably 1-4, and still more preferably 1-2, for each mutation type.

Pharmaceutical preparations (hGH preparations) containing hGH having the molecular weight of about 22KD as the active principle, which are produced as a recombinant protein using E. coli cells having introduced hGH gene, are widely used clinically as therapeutic preparations for growth hormone deficiency dwarfism, dwarfism in Turner syndrome, dwarfism in SGA accompanied by no epiphyseal closure, dwarfism by chronic renal failure, dwarfism in Prader-Willi syndrome, and dwarfism in achondroplasia. Those hGH preparations are subcutaneously or intramuscularly administered, and their ingredient, hGH, circulating in the blood, exhibits its effect to promote patient's growth by its growth-promoting activity. At the same time, the hGH preparations are also widely used clinically as therapeutic preparations for adult growth hormone deficiency. While abnormal lipid metabolism is observed in patients with adult growth hormone deficiency, administration of hGH normalizes patient's lipid metabolism and improves their QOL. Human GH is also applied clinically as a therapeutic drug for consumption caused by AIDS. Growject (trademark) is an example of hGH preparation for the treatment of growth hormone deficiency dwarfism, adult growth hormone deficiency, and the like.

In the present invention, the product in which human growth hormone is employed as the protein (A) linked to human serum albumin mutant (mHSA) is referred to as “human serum albumin mutant-linked human growth hormone”, “mHSA-linked hGH”, or the like, and where the linkage is made by a peptide bond, specifically also as “human serum albumin mutant-fused human growth hormone”, “mHSA-fused hGH”, or the like.

More specifically, to link a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of the HSA mutant with a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of hGH, a general method may be employed in the present invention, in which, for example, an expression vector prepared having an incorporated DNA fragment in which the gene encoding one of the polypeptides is linked downstream thereof in-frame to the gene encoding the other polypeptide, and host cells transformed with this expression vector are cultured to let the recombinant protein to express itself.

By preparing an mHSA-linked hGH using a method to let transformed cells express it as a recombinant protein, a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of hGH is linked to the N or C terminus of the polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of the HSA mutant of the present invention, either directly or indirectly via a linker.

In the case where a polypeptide comprising the amino acid of hGH is linked to the N terminus of a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of the HSA mutant of the present invention, an expression vector is employed having an incorporated DNA fragment in which the gene encoding a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of the HSA mutant of the present invention is linked in-frame to, and downstream of, the gene encoding a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of hGH. In the case where the two polypeptides are indirectly linked via a peptide linker, a DNA sequence encoding the linker is placed in-frame between the genes encoding the two polypeptides.

In the case where a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of hGH is linked to the C terminus of a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of the HSA mutant of the present invention, an expression vector is employed having an incorporated DNA fragment in which the gene encoding a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of the HSA mutant of the present invention is linked in-frame to, and upstream of, the gene encoding a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of hGH. In the case where the two polypeptides are indirectly linked via a peptide linker, a DNA sequence encoding the linker is placed in-frame between the genes encoding the two polypeptides.

Furthermore, to link a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of the HSA mutant of the present invention to a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of hGH, there is a method, for example, in which the two polypeptides are separately prepared and then linked via a non-peptide linker or a peptide linker. As a non-peptide linker, the following may be used: polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, copolymers of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, polyoxyethylated polyols, polyvinylalcohol, polysaccharides, dextran, polyvinylether, biodegradable polymers, lipid polymers, chitins, and hyaluronic acid, or derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof. On the other hand, a peptide linker is a peptide chain consisting of peptide bonded 1-50 amino acids or its derivative, whose N and C termini respectively form peptide bonds with the HSA mutant or a protein of interest to link the HSA mutant and the protein of interest.

Where the linker is specifically identified, a protein (A) linked with the HSA mutant using PEG as a non-peptide linker is referred to as an HSA mutant PEG-linked protein (A). Thus, it is referred to as HSA mutant PEG-linked hGH if hGH is chosen as a protein (A). HSA mutant PEG-linked hGH can be produced either by bonding the HSA mutant and PEG at first (PEGylated HSA mutant), and then bonding this with hGH, or by bonding hGH and PEG in advance (PEGylated hGH), and then bonding this with the HSA mutant. To bond PEG to the HSA mutant of the present invention, PEG modified with functional groups such as carbonate, carbonyldiimidazole, active carbonate, azlactone, cyclic imidethione, isocyanate, isothiocyanate, imidate, or aldehyde, is employed. Such functional groups attached to PEG react mainly with an amino group on the molecules of the HSA mutant and hGH, forming covalent bonds with the HSA mutant and hGH. Though there is no notable limitation as to the molecular weight of the PEG employed, its mean molecular weight (MW) is as follows: preferably MVV=500-60000, more preferably MW=500-20000. For example, PEG whose mean molecular weight is about 300, about 500, about 1000, about 2000, about 4000, about 10000, about 20000, or the like can preferably be used as a non-peptide linker.

PEGylated HSA mutant, for example, can be obtained by mixing the HSA mutant of the present invention with a polyethylene glycol having aldehyde groups as functional groups (ALD-PEG-ALD) at a molar ratio HSA/(ALD-PEG-ALD) of 11, 12.5, 15, 110, 120, and the like, and adding a reducing agent such as NaCNBH₃ or the like to the mixture, and letting them react. The above PEGylated HSA mutant then is allowed to react with hGH in the presence of a reducing agent such as NaCNBH₃ or the like to give HSA mutant PEG-linked hGH. Conversely, the HSA mutant PEG-linked hGH of the present invention can also be obtained by bonding hGH and ALD-PEG-ALD at first to form PEGylated hGH, and bonding this with the HSA mutant.

In the present invention, a preferable example of mHSA-linked (fused) hGH is the mHSA mutant-linked hGH having the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:11, in which the C terminus of 22K human growth hormone having the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:9 is linked to the N terminus of HSA(A320T) having the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:3, by forming a peptide bond without a linker. In the present invention, that which consists of HSA(A320T) and 22K hGH linked in this order is referred to as “22K human growth hormone-mHSA” or “22KhGH-mHSA”. Likewise, that in which the N terminus of 22K human growth hormone is linked to the C terminus of HSA(A320T) by forming a peptide bond without a linker, is referred to as “mHSA-22K human growth hormone” or “mHSA-22KhGH”.

Further, the mHSA mutant-linked hGH having the sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:12, in which the C terminus of 22K human growth hormone set forth as SEQ ID NO:10 is linked to the N terminus of the human serum albumin(A320T) having the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:3, by forming a peptide bond without a linker, is referred to as “20K human growth hormone-mHSA” or “20KhGH-mHSA”. Likewise, that in which the N terminus of 20K human growth hormone is linked to the C terminus of human serum albumin(A320T) by forming a peptide bond without a linker, is referred to as “mHSA-20K human growth hormone” or “mHSA-20KhGH”.

The HSA mutant-linked human growth hormone of the preset invention is characterized in that it is remarkably stabilized in the blood, exhibiting a half-life generally not shorter than 10 hours in the blood (t_(1/2)β) after subcutaneous injection to cynomolgus monkeys. While it would vary depending on doses, the half-life (t_(1/2)β) of mHSA-22KhGH and 22KhGH-mHSA in the blood after a single subcutaneous administration to male cynomolgus monkeys at a dose of 4 mg/kg is 20-35 hours.

The HSA mutant-linked human growth hormone can be used as a medicament. It is also possible to use it as a medicament by allowing cooperation of the functions of human growth hormone and the HSA mutant in the living body.

The HSA mutant-linked human growth hormone of the present invention is very stable in the blood. Thus, the present invention stabilizes human growth hormone in the blood and enables it to remain for a long time, with its activity maintained, thereby leading to reduction of frequency of administration or dose of human growth hormone used as a medicament. For example, the frequency of administration of a medicament which must be administered daily could be reduced to once in 3-30 days by linking it to the HSA mutant of the present invention. Furthermore, the dose of such a medicament could be reduced to 1/3-1/100 in molar ratio.

The HSA mutant-linked human growth hormone of the present invention can be used as a medicament for the treatment of such disorders as growth hormone deficiency dwarfism, dwarfism in Turner syndrome, dwarfism by chronic renal failure, dwarfism in Prader-Willi syndrome, dwarfism in achondroplasia, dwarfism in SGA, all accompanied by no epiphyseal closure; and adult growth hormone deficiency, consumption caused by AIDS, and consumption caused by anorexia, and in addition, can also be used as a therapeutic drug for the treatment of disorders with such symptoms that could be ameliorated by long-term application of physiological activities of growth hormone, such as growth-promotion activity including acceleration of chondrogenesis, acceleration of protein anabolism, and the like, as well as improvement of body composition and lipids metabolism.

In the case where mHSA-22KhGH is administered to a patient with growth hormone deficiency dwarfism accompanied by no epiphyseal closure, a preferable dose is 0.01-0.7 mg/kg body weight at a time. In the case where hHSA-22KhGH is administered to a patient with dwarfism in Turner syndrome accompanied by no epiphyseal closure, a preferable dose is 0.15-1.4 mg/kg body weight at a time. In the case where mHSA-22KhGH is administered to a patient with dwarfism by chronic renal failure accompanied by no epiphyseal closure, a preferable dose is 0.01-1.4 mg/kg body weight at a time. In the case where mHSA-22KhGH is administered to a patient with Prader-Willi syndrome accompanied by no epiphyseal closure, a preferable dose is 0.012-0.98 mg/kg body weight at a time. In the case where mHSA-22KhGH is administered to a patient with dwarfism in achondroplasia accompanied by no epiphyseal closure, a preferable dose is 0.015-1.4 mg/kg body weight at a time. In the case where mHSA-22KhGH is administered to a patient with dwarfism in SGA accompanied by no epiphyseal closure, a preferable dose is 0.012-1.9 mg/kg body weight at a time. In the case where mHSA-22KhGH is administered to a patient with growth hormone deficiency, a preferable dose is 0.001-0.34 mg/kg body weight at a time. In the case where mHSA-22KhGH is administered to a patient with consumption caused by AIDS, a preferable dose is 0.005-0.4 mg/Kg body weight at a time. These doses, however, should be properly modified in accordance with the result of examination of the patient. Furthermore, a preferable interval of mHSA-22KhGH dosing for these disorders is once in 7-30 days, and it should be modified to once in 7-14 days, once in 10-20 days, once in 14-21 days according to the result of examination of the patient. The way of its administration is preferably subcutaneous injection, intramuscular injection, or intravenous injection, and more preferably subcutaneous injection or intramuscular injection.

A medicament containing a HSA mutant-linked protein as the active principle can be administered intravenously, intramuscularly, intraperitoneally, subcutaneously, or intracerabroventricularly, in the form of injectable preparation. Such an injectable preparation may be supplied in the form of a lyophilized preparation or an aqueous liquid preparation. In the case where an aqueous liquid preparation, it may be supplied either in the form of a vial filled with it or in the prefilled type preparation where it is already filled in a syringe. In the case of lyophilized preparation, it is reconstituted by dissolving it with an aqueous medium before use.

EXAMPLES

Though the present invention is described in further detail with reference to examples, it is not intended that the present invention be limited to the examples.

[Example 1] Construction of pE-mIRES-GS-puro

A vector, pEF/myc/nuc (Invitrogen), was digested with restriction enzymes (KpnI and NcoI) to cut out a DNA fragment containing EF-1α promoter and its first intron, and this DNA fragment was blunt-ended with T4 DNA polymerase. Separately, pCl-neo (Invitrogen) was digested with restriction enzymes (BglII and EcoRI) to cut and remove a region including CMV enhancer/promoter and its intron, and then blunt-ended with T4 DNA polymerase. Into this product was inserted the above region (blunt-ended) including EP-1α promoter and its first intron to prepare pE-neo vector (FIG. 1 ).

The vector, pE-neo, was digested with restriction enzymes (SfiI and BstXI) to cut and remove a region of about 1 kbp containing the neomycin resistance gene (FIG. 2 ). Using pcDNA3.1/Hygro(+) (Invitrogen), as a template, and primer Hyg-Sfi5′ (SEQ ID NO:13) and primer Hyg-BstX3′ (SEQ ID NO:14), PCR was conducted to multiply the hygromycin gene (FIG. 2 ). The hygromycin thus multiplied was digested with restriction enzymes (SfiI and BstXI) and inserted into the pE-neo vector to construct pE-hygr vector (FIG. 2 ).

An expression vector, pPGKIH (Miyahara M. et. al., J. Biol. Chem. 275,613-618 (2000)) was digested with restriction enzymes (XhoI and BamHI) to cut out a DNA fragment consisting of a nucleotide sequence comprising an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) derived from mouse encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV), a hygromycin resistance gene (Hygr gene), and the polyadenylation region (mPGKpA) of mouse phosphoglycerate kinase (mPGK), i.e., IRES-Hygr-mPGKpA (SEQ ID NO:15: the region consisting of nucleotides 1-6 from its 5′ end is an “XhoI site”, the region consisting of nucleotides 120-715 and 716-718 (atg) which follow is the “nucleotide sequence comprising the internal ribosome entry site derived from the 5′ untranslated region of mouse encephalomyocarditis virus genome, the region consisting of nucleotides 716-1741 including 716-718 (atg) is the “nucleotide sequence encoding the hygromycin resistance gene”, the region consisting of nucleotides 1747-2210 is the “nucleotide sequence comprising the polyadenylation region of mouse phosphoglycerate kinase (mPGK)”, and the region consisting of the 6 nucleotides (nucleotides 2211-2216) at the 3′ end is a “BamHI site”) (besides, the amino acid sequence corresponding to the Hygr gene is shown by SEQ ID NO:16). This DNA fragment was inserted between XhoI and BamHI sites of pBluescript SK(−) (Stratagene), and the resulting product was designated pBSK(IRES-Hygr-mPGKpA) (FIG. 3-1 ).

Using pBSK(IRES-Hygr-mPGKpA), as a template, and primer IRES5′ (SEQ ID NO:17) and primer IRES3′ (SEQ ID NO:18), PCR was conducted to multiply a DNA fragment comprising part of the IRES of EMCV. This DNA fragment was digested with restriction enzymes (XhoI and HindIII) and introduced between XhoI and HindIII sites of pBSK(IRES-Hygr-mPGKpA), and the resulting product was designated pBSK(NotI-IRES-Hygr-mPGKpA) (FIG. 3-2 ). Following digestion with restriction enzymes (NotI and BamHI), pBSK(NotI-IRES-Hygr-mPGKpA) was inserted between NotI and BamHI sites of pE-hygr vector, and the resulting product was designated plasmid pE-IRES-Hygr (FIG. 3-3 ).

Using the expression vector pPGKIH, as a template, and primer mPGKP5′ (SEQ ID NO:19) and primer (mPGKP3′) (SEQ ID NO:20), PCR was carried out to multiply a DNA fragment consisting of a nucleotide sequence comprising the mPGK promoter region (SEQ ID NO:21: nucleotides 4-9 from the 5′ end is a “BgIII site”, the region consisting of nucleotides 10-516 which follows is the “nucleotide sequence comprising the promoter region of mouse phosphoglycerate kinase gene (mPGK)”, and the region consisting of nucleotides 524-529 which follows is an “EcoRI site”). This DNA fragment was digested with restriction enzymes (BgIII and EcoRI), and inserted between BgIII and EcoRI sites of pCI-neo (Promega), and the resulting product was designated pPGK-neo (FIG. 3-4 ). Following digestion of pE-IRES-Hygr with restriction enzymes (NotI and BamHI) to cut out a DNA fragment (IRES-Hygr), which then was inserted between NotI and BamH sites of pPGK-neo, and the resulting product was designated pPGK-IRES-Hygr (FIG. 3-5 ).

From CHO-K1 cells, cDNA was prepared, and using this cDNA, as a template, and primer GS5′ (SEQ ID NO:22) and primer GS3′ (SEQ ID NO:23), PCR was carried out to multiply a DNA fragment comprising GS gene. This DNA fragment was digested with restriction enzymes (Ball and BamHI), and inserted between Ball and BamHI sites of pPGK-IRES-Hygr, and the resulting product was designated pPGK-IRES-GS-ΔpolyA (FIG. 3-6 ).

Using pCAGIPuro (Miyahara m. et. al., J. Biol. Chem. 275,613-618 (2000)), as a template, and primer puro5′ (SEQ ID NO:24 and primer puro3′ (SEQ ID NO:25), a DNA fragment consisting of a nucleotide sequence comprising a puromycin resistance gene (puro gene) was multiplied by PCR (SEQ ID NO:26: the region consisting of nucleotides 2-7 from the 5′ is “AfIII site”, the region consisting of nucleotides 8-607 which follows is the “nucleotide sequence encoding the puromycin resistance gene (puro gene)”, and the region consisting of nucleotides 608-619 which follows is a “BstXI site”) (besides, the amino acid sequence corresponding to the puro gene is shown by SEQ ID NO:27). This DNA fragment was digested with restriction enzymes (AfIII and BstXI) and then inserted between AfIII and BstXI sites, and the resulting product was designated pE-puro (FIG. 3-7 ).

Using pE-puro, as a template, and primer SV40polyA5′ (SEQ ID NO:28) and primer SV40polyA3′ (SEQ ID NO:29), a DNA fragment including the SV40 late polyadenylation region was multiplied by PCR. This DNA fragment was digested with restriction enzymes (NotI and HpaI) and then inserted between NotI and HpaI sites of the expression vector pE-puro, and the resulting product was designated pE-puro(XhoI) (FIG. 3-8 ). By digesting pPGK-IRES-GS-ΔpolyA with restriction enzymes (NotI and XhoI), a DNA fragment including IRES-GS region was cut out, which then was inserted between NotI and XhoI sites of the expression vector pE-puro(XhoI), and the resulting product was designated pE-IRES-GS-puro (FIG. 3-9 ).

Using the expression vector pE-IRES-GS-puro, as a template, and primer mIRES-GS5′ (SEQ ID NO:30) and primer mIRES-GS3′ (SEQ ID NO:31), the region from IRES of the EMCV to GS was multiplied by PCR in which the 2nd start codon (atg) from the 5′ end of the IRES of EMCV was destroyed by introduction of mutation. Using the expression vector pE-IRES-GS-puro, as a template, and the above DNA fragment and the primer IRES5′ mentioned above, a DNA fragment including the above region from IRES to GS was multiplied by PCR. This DNA fragment was digested with restriction enzymes (NotI and PstI), and a DNA fragment thus cut out was inserted between NotI and PstI sites of the expression vector pE-IRES-GS-puro, and the resulting product was designated pE-mIRES-GS-puro, an expression vector for mammalian cells (FIG. 4 ).

[Example 2] Construction of a Vector for Expression of HSA-22KhG

SEQ ID NO:32 shows the amino acid sequence of the fusion protein HSA-22KhGH, which is the product resulting by fusing the C terminus of the wild-type HSA (SEQ ID NO:1) to the N terminus of 22KhGH. In this amino acid sequence, the amino acid residues 1-585 corresponds to the amino acid sequence of wild-type mature HSA (SEQ ID NO:1), and the amino acid residues 586-776 corresponds to the amino acid sequence of 22KhGH. The DNA having the nucleotide sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:33, including the gene encoding HSA-22KhGH (HSA-22KhGH gene) was chemically synthesized. In this sequence, nucleotides 11-82, nucleotides 83-1837, and nucleotides 1838-2410 encode the HSA leader peptide, mature HSA, and mature hGH, respectively. This DNA was digested with restriction enzymes (MluI and NotI), and inserted between MluI and NotI sites of pE-mIRES-GS-puro prepared in Example 1 to construct vector pE-mIRES-GS-puro(HSA-22KhGH) for expression of HSA-22KhGH.

[Example 3] Construction of a Vector for Expression of mHSA-22KhGH

The fusion protein having the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:34, which was the product obtained by fusing the C terminus of HSA(A320T) (SEQ ID NO:3) with the N terminus of 22KhGH, was designated mHSA-22KhGH. In the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:34, amino acid residues 1-585 corresponds to the amino acid sequencer of mHSA, and the amino acid residues 586-776 corresponds to the amino acid sequence of 22KhGH. Using pE-mIRES-GS-puro(HSA-22KhGH) prepared in Example 2, as a template, and primer YA082 (SEQ ID NO:35) and primer YA083 (SEQ ID NO:36), a DNA fragment comprising the gene encoding mHSA-22KhGH by PCR. By self-annealing of this DNA fragment, pE-mIRES-GS-puro(mHSA-22KhGH) was constructed as the vector for expression of mHSA-22KhGH.

[Example 4] Construction of a Vector for Expression of 22KhGH-HSA

The fusion protein having the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:37, which was the product obtained by fusing the C terminus of 22KhGH with the N terminus of wild-type HSA (SEQ ID NO:1), was designated 22KhGH-HSA. In the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:37, amino acid residues 1-191 corresponds to the amino acid sequence of 22KhGH, and amino acid residues 192-776 corresponds to the amino acid sequence of HSA. A DNA having the nucleotide sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:38 containing the gene encoding 22KhGH-HSA (22KhGH-HSA gene) was chemically synthesized. In this sequence, nucleotides 11-88 encodes the hGH leader peptide, nucleotides 89-661 mature hGH, nucleotides 662-2416 mature HSA, respectively. This DNA was digested with restriction enzymes (MluI and NotI) and inserted between MluI and NotI sites of pE-mIRES-GS-puro prepared in Example 1 to construct pE-mIRES-GS-puro(22KhGH-HSA) as the vector for expression of 22KhGH-HSA.

[Example 5] Construction of a Vector for Expression of 22KhGH-mHSA

The fusion protein having the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:39, which was the product obtained by fusing the C terminus of 22KhGH with the N terminus of HSA(A320T) (SEQ ID NO:3), was designated 22KhGH-mHSA. Using pE-mIRES-GS-puro(22KhGH-HSA) prepared in Example 4, as a template, and primer YA082 (SEQ ID NO:35) and primer YA083 (SEQ ID NO:36), a DNA fragment comprising the gene encoding 22KhGH-mHSA was multiplied by PCR. By self-annealing of this DNA fragment, pE-mIRES-GS-puro(22KhGH-mHSA), the vector for expression of 22KhGH-mHSA, was constructed.

[Example 6] Preparation of Fusion Protein Expressing Cells

Cells for expression of each fusion protein, HSA-22KhGH, mHSA-22KhGH, 22KhGH-HSA, and 22KhGH-mHSA were prepared in the following manner. Into CHO-K1 cells, the cells derived from Chinese hamster ovary cells, were separately introduced the expression vectors prepared in Examples 2-5, i.e., pE-mIRES-GS-puro(HSA-22KhGH), which was the expression vector for HSA-22KhGH, pE-mIRES-GS-puro(mHSA-22KhGH), which was the expression vector for mHSA-22KhGH, pE-mIRES-GS-puro(22KhGH-HSA), which was the expression vector for 22KhGH-HSA, and pE-mIRES-GS-puro(22KhGH-mHSA), which was the expression vector for 22KhGH-mHSA, using Gene Pulser Xcell electroporation system (Bio Rad). The cells having one of the expression vectors introduced were subjected to selection culture in a CD OptiCHO™ medium (Thermo Fisher Scientific) using methionine sulfoximine (SIGMA) and puromycin (SIGMA) to establish cells for expression of HSA-22KhGH, cells for expression of mHSA-22KhGH, cells for expression of 22KhGH-HSA, and cells for expression of 22KhGH-mHSA, respectively. In the selection culture, the concentration of methionine sulfoximine and puromycin was increased stepwise, up to the final concentration of 300 μM for methionine sulfoximine, and 10 μg/mL for puromycin, to selectively promote the cells having stronger drug resistance.

The cells for expression of HSA-22KhGH, cells for expression of mHSA-22KhGH, cells for expression of 22KhGH-HSA, and cells for expression of 22KhGH-mHSA are generally referred to as HSA-hGH fusion protein expressing cells, and the fusion proteins between HSA and hGH obtained by culturing those cells are generally referred to as HSA-hGH fusion proteins.

[Example 7] Culture of Fusion Protein-Expressing Cells

HSA-22KhGH expressing cells, mHSA-22KhGH expressing cells, 22KhGH-HSA expressing cells, and 22KhGH-mHSA expressing cells were cultured in the following manner. To CD OptiCHO™ medium (Thermo Fisher Scientific) were added methionine sulfoximine and puromycin at the final concentration of 300 μM and 10 μg/mL, respectively, to prepare a cell culture medium. The respective cells for expression prepared in Example 6 were added to 5 mL each of the cell culture medium at a density of 2×10⁵ cells/mL, and cultured at 37° C. in the presence of 5% CO₂. The cells were transferred to a fresh culture medium to the density of 2×10⁵ cells/mL once in 5 days, and subcultured.

[Example 8] Purification of HSA-hGH Fusion Proteins

Purification of HSA-22KhGH, mHSA-22KhGH, 22KhGH-HSA, and 22KhGH-mHSA were carried out in the following manner. The respective cells for expression subcultured in Example 7 were suspended in their cell culture medium at a density of 2×10⁵ cells/mL to make the total volume of 240 mL. The cell suspension was added, 30 mL each, to eight 15-cm petri dishes and cultured for 5 days at 37° C. Following this culture, each of the medium was collected through a membrane filter (pore size 0.22, Millipore) to obtain the culture supernatant. To each of the supernatant, 1 M HEPES (pH 8.0) then was added to adjust the pH to 7.0-7.2.

A polypropylene column (Poly-Prep™ Bio-Rad) was filled with a resin to which 5 mL of anti-human growth hormone antibody had been bound (Capture Select™ anti hGH resin, Thermo Fisher Scientific), and the resin was equilibrated with 5 column volumes of 10 mM HEPES buffer containing 500 mM NaCl (pH 7.5). The above culture supernatant, following pH adjustment, was loaded onto the column at a flow rate of about 2.5 mL/min to allow the HSA-hGH fusion protein to be adsorbed by the resin. The column then was washed with 5 column volumes of 10 mM HEPES buffer containing 500 mM NaCl (pH 7.5) suppled at the same flow rate. The HSA-hGH fusion protein was eluted from the resin with 5 column volumes of 0.1 M glycine buffer (pH 3.0) containing 100 mM NaCl. Fractions containing HSA-hGH fusion protein was collected and 7% (v/v) of 1 M HEPES buffer (pH 8.0) was immediately added. The concentration of HSA-hGH fusion protein in the eluate was determined by Pierce™ BCA Protein Assay Kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific) using BSA as a standard compound.

[Example 9] Preparation of BaF3/hGHR Cells

BaF3/hGHR cells having acquired GH-dependent growth ability was produced by introducing of human GH receptor (hGHR) gene into mouse BaF3 cells as follows. PCR was carried out using a hGHR ECD artificially synthesized gene having the nucleotide sequence set for as SEQ ID 40 (a 5′ side fragment of the hGHR gene encoding the extra cellular domain of hGHR), as a template, and primer YA034 (SEQ ID NO:41) and primer YA035 (SEQ ID NO:42). The PCR product was subjected to agarose electrophoresis and purified using QIAEX II (QIAGEN). This DNA fragment was employed as megaprimer. Using cDNA derived from human lung as a template, primer K708 (SEQ ID NO:43), and primer K709 (SEQ ID NO:44), PCR was carried out to multiply a DNA fragment including the full length hGHR gene. The PCR product thus obtained was subjected to agarose electrophoresis, and purified using QIAEX II. Using the purified DNA fragment including the full-length hGHR gene as a template, the above megaprimer, and primer K709 (SEQ ID NO:44), PCR was carried out to amplify the DNA fragment having the nucleotide sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:45, which included a gene encoding the full-length hGHR that had a hGHR ECD artificially synthesized nucleotide sequence on the 5′ end side. This DNA fragment was digested with restriction enzymes (MluI and NotI) and then inserted between MluI and NotI sites of retrovirus vector pMX-II (Ono Y., Oncogene. 19. 3050-8 (2000)) to provide a retrovirus vector for hGHR expression (hGHR/pMX-II).

In 10 mL of DMEM medium containing 10% FBS, 6×10⁶ of “293 cells” (Dainippon Pharmaceutical) were suspended. This suspension was added to 10-cm petri dishes and cultured for 24 hours at 37° C. in the presence of 5% CO₂. The “293 cells” employed here was human embryonic kidney cells transformed with the E1 gene of adenovirus.

To 500 μL of Opti-MEMI™ medium (Thermo Fisher Scientific) was added 15 μL of X-tremeGENE 9 DNA Transfection Reagent (Roche) and mixed, and to this mixture, 5 μg of the retrovirus packaging vector pCL-Eco (IMGENEX) and 5 μg of hGHR/pMX-II were further added and mixed. This mixture solution was left undisturbed for 15 minutes at room temperature, and then added to the above mentioned 10-cm dishes in which the “293 cells” had been cultured for 24 hours. The cells then were cultured for 24 hours at 37° C. in the presence of 5% CO₂, and the medium then was centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 5 minutes to collect the supernatant. The supernatant thus collected was used as the hGHR expressing retrovirus solution.

WEHI-3 cells (Riken) were cultured in RPM1640 medium containing 10% FBS, and the medium were centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 5 minutes to collect the supernatant. To 2 mL of the hGHR expressing retrovirus solution were added 500 μL of the culture supernatant of WEHI-3 cells and 2.5 mL of RPMI1640 medium containing 10% FBS, and mixed. This mixture solution was added to 2×10⁶ BaF3 cells (Riken) of an IL-3 dependent cell line, and the cells were suspended. This cell suspension was transferred to a 75-cm² culture flask and cultured in the presence of 5% CO₂ at 37° C. for 8 hours, and following addition of 500 μL of the supernatant of WEHI-3 cell culture and 2.5 mL of RPMI1640 medium containing 10% FBS, cultured for further 16 hours. After this culture, the cells were collected by centrifugation, and washed three times with PBS. To the collected cells was added 5 mL of RPM1640 medium containing 22KhGHR at 100 ng/mL to suspend the cells, and the suspended cells were transferred to a culture flask and cultured in the presence of 5% CO₂ at 37° C. to obtain BaF3 cells that had acquired GH-dependent growth ability as a result of the expression of the hGHR gene. The cells were designated BaF3/hGHR cells.

[Example 10] Determination of Cell Growth Activity Using BaF3/hGHR Cells

Cell growth activity of HSA-hGH fusion protein was evaluated using the BaF3/hGHR cells prepared by the method described in Example 9.

BaF3/hGHR cells at the log growth phase were washed three times with PBS, and diluted to 1×10⁶ cells/mL with 15 mL of RPMI1640 medium containing 1% horse serum, and cultured in the presence of 5% CO₂ at 37° C. for 16 hours. After this culture, the cells were diluted to 3×10⁵ cells/mL with the same medium, and 100 μL of it was seeded in each well of a 96-well culture plate. The HSA-hGH fusion proteins (HSA-22KhGH, mHSA-22KhGH, 22KhGH-HSA, and 22KhGH-mHSA) purified in Example 8 were diluted to each of 7 different concentrations (90.3 nM, 18.1 nM, 3.6 nM, 0.72 nM, 0.14 nM, 0.029 nM, and 0.0058 nM) with PBS containing 0.1% BSA to prepare diluted solutions.

The diluted solutions prepared above was added, 20 μL each, to the wells of the 96-well culture plate that had been seeded with BaF3/hGHR cells, mixed on a plate shaker, and cultured in the presence of 5% CO₂ at 37° C. for 22 hours. After this culture, CellTiter96™ Aqueous One Solution Cell Proliferation Assay test solution, which was a reagent in colorimetric analysis for counting the number of living cells, was added to the well, 24 μL each, and mixed, and culture was continued for further 3 hours. Absorbance then was measured for each well at 490 nm using a plate reader. The values measured were plotted, with absorbance at 490 nm on the vertical axis, and molar concentration (nM) on the horizontal axis. As absorbance at 490 nm indicated a relative value corresponding to the number of living cells, the curve produced by plotting the measured values represented the correlation between the concentration of the test sample and the growth level of the cells. The concentration of the test sample at which the level of the cell growth was 50% of the maximum cell growth on the curve was determined as EC₅₀. Measurement was carried out three times for each test sample.

[Example 11] Pharmacodynamic and Pharmacological Analyses Using Cynomo ES Monkeys

Each of the HSA-hGH fusion proteins purified in Example 8 (HSA-22KhGH, mHSA-22KhGH, 22KhGH-HSA, and 22KhGH-mHSA) was subcutaneously administered once, at a dose of 4.0 mg/kg, to male cynomolgus monkeys. HSA-22KhGH was administered to 3 cynomolgus monkeys, and mHSA-22KhGH, 22KhGH-HSA, or 22KhGH-mHSA was administered to one cynomolgus monkey.

Peripheral blood samples were taken from the animals for pharmacodynamic analysis 15 minutes, and 1, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72, 120, 168, and 216 hours after the administration. The blood was taken in blood collection tubes containing potassium EDTA, cooled with ice, and centrifuged (17000×g, 5 minutes, 4° C.) to separate the plasma. The concentration of HSA-hGH fusion protein contained in the plasma thus prepared was measured by a method detailed in Example 12 below, and by plotting the concentration of HSA-hGH on the vertical axis, and the time elapsed after administration on the horizontal axis, Cmax, AUC_(0-216 h), AUC_(0-inf), and t_(1/2)β were determined to perform pharmacodynamic analysis.

Further, the pharmacological effect of HSA-hGH fusion protein was analyzed as follows using promotion of IGF-1 secretion as an index. Peripheral blood was taken before administration, as well as 6 and 12 hours and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 days after administration, and plasma was prepared from the peripheral blood in the above-described manner. The concentration of IGF-1 in the plasma was determined by the method described in Example 13, and pharmacological analysis was performed by plotting the concentration of IGF-1 on the vertical axis, and the time elapsed after administration on the horizontal axis. Furthermore, as a control, an additional cynomolgus monkey was provided, and 22KhGH (Growject™) was administered to it subcutaneously at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg for 7 consecutive days, and the concentration of IGF-1 in plasma was measured simultaneously.

[Example 10] Determination of HSA-hGH Fusion Protein in Plasma

Mouse anti-HSA monoclonal antibody and mouse anti-hGH antibody were obtained by culturing hybridoma cells produced by fusing mouse spleen cells immunized by HSA or hGH with myeloma cells by a conventional method well known to those skilled in the art. Mouse anti-hGH monoclonal antibody was dialyzed against 0.1 M NaHCO₃ solution (pH9), and the concentration of the antibody in the solution was measured using NanoDrop™ (Thermo Scientific). EZ-Link™ NHS-LC-Biotin (Thermo Fisher Scientific) dissolved at 5 mg/mL in DMSO then was added to the antibody solution at a ratio of 60 μg of NHS-LC-Biotin per 1 mg of the antibody, and after letting a reaction take place for 2 hours at room temperature, the reaction solution was dialyzed against PBS to obtain biotinylated mouse anti-hGH monoclonal antibody. The mouse anti-HSA monoclonal antibody was used as the primary antibody, and biotinylated mouse-anti hGH monoclonal antibody as the secondary antibody, respectively, in the determination method described below.

The concentration of the HSA-hGH fusion protein in plasma was determined by electrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunoassay. ECL immunoassay is a method in which a sample is determined by applying electrochemical stimulation to a secondary antibody labeled with a ruthenium complex, SULFO-TAG, on a plate while detecting the luminescence with a CCD camera at the wavelength of 620 nm caused by oxidation-reduction of SULFO-TAG.

Measurement was carried out largely in the following manner according to the product manual of Sector Imager 6000. The mouse anti-HSA monoclonal antibody was added to High Bind Plate (Meso Scale Diagnostics), and left undisturbed for one hour to immobilize the anti-HSA antibody (primary antibody) to the plate. Superblock Blocking buffer in PBS (Thermo Fisher Scientific) then was added to the plate, and shaken for one hour to block the plate. The plate was washed with PBST (PBS containing 0.05% Tween20), and following addition of a sample, shaken for one hour. The plate was washed with PBST, and after addition of the biotinylated mouse anti-hGH monoclonal antibody (secondary antibody), shaken for one hour. The plate was washed with PBST, and after addition of SULFO-Tag-Streptavidin (Meso Scale Diagnostics), shaken for one hour. After washing the plate with PBST, Read buffer T (Meso Scale Diagnostics) was added, and luminescence at 620 nm was measured using Sector Imager 6000 (Meso Scale Diagnostics). Known concentrations of HSA-hGH were determined in the same manner on the same plate to obtain a standard curve, and the concentration of HSA-hGH in the plasma was determined by interpolating the values measured for the sample.

[Example 13] Determination of IGF-1 in Plasma

Determination of IGF-1 in the plasma was carried out by ELISA using Human IGF-I Quantikine ELISA kit (R&D systems).

[Example 14] Results and Discussion

(1) Determination of Cell Growth Activity Using BaF3/hGHR Cells

FIG. 5 illustrates the result of the determination of cell growth activity using BaF3/hGHR cells, a figure produced by plotting absorbance at 490 nm on the vertical axis and molar concentration (nM) for each sample on the horizontal axis. The EC₅₀ values for each sample determined from this figure are shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 EC₅₀ values for each sample (values of cell growth activity using BaF3/hGHR cells) HSA- mHSA- 22KhGH- 22KhGH- 22KhGH 22KhGH HSA mHSA EC₅₀ (nM) 1.38 × 10⁻¹ 1.53 × 10⁻¹ 8.78 × 10⁻¹ 1.20

As seen from Table 1, the EC₅₀ values of HSA-22KhGH and mHSA-22KhGH, i.e., 22KhGH linked to the C terminus of human serum albumin, were 1.38×10⁻¹ nM and 1.53×10⁻¹ nM, respectively, indicating that the both had approximately equivalent cell growth activities. Further, as to 22KhGH-HSA and 22KhGH-mHSA, i.e., 22KhGH linked to the N terminus of human serum albumin, their EC₅₀ values were 8.78×10⁻¹ nM and 1.20 nM, indicating that these two had also largely equivalent cell growth activities to each other.

On the other hand, comparison of the EC₅₀ values between HSA-22KhGH and 22KhGH-HSA showed that the EC₅₀ values of 22KhGH-HSA was about 6.4 times the EC₅₀ values of HSA-22KhGH, and comparison of the EC₅₀ values between mHSA-22KhGH and 22KhGH-mHSA showed that the EC₅₀ values of 22KhGH-mHSA was about 7.8 times the EC₅₀ values of mHSA-22KhGH.

The results indicate that when preparing a fusion protein is by linking 22KhGH with human serum albumin, to link 22KhGH to the C terminus of human serum albumin will provides a fusion protein exhibiting a greater cell growth activity of 22KhGH than to link it to the N terminus of human serum albumin, at least in vitro. Thus, the above results suggest that when producing a therapeutic agent for the treatment of growth hormone deficiency dwarfism by linking 22KhGH with human serum albumin, it is preferred to link 22KhGH to the C terminus of human serum albumin.

(2) Pharmacodynamic Analysis Using Cynomolgus Monkeys

FIG. 6 illustrates the result of pharmacodynamic analysis of the HSA-hGH fusion proteins produced by plotting the concentration of the HSA-hGH fusion proteins (HSA-22KhGH, mHSA-22KhGH, 22KhGH-HSA and 22KhGH-mHSA) in the blood of cynomolgus monkeys on the vertical axis, and the time elapsed after administration of the HSA-hGH fusion proteins on the horizontal axis. Cmax, AUC_(0-216 h), AUC_(0-inf) and t_(1/2)β derived from this figure is shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Pharmacodynamis for each sample Cmax AUC_(0-216 h) AUC_(0-inf) (μg/mL) (μg · hr/mL) (μg · hr/mL) t_(1/2)β(hr) HSA-22 KhGH 20.1 ± 3.4 751 ± 54 752 ± 55 30.0 ± 1.5 mHSA-22 KhGH 20.3  736  737 29.9 22 KhGH-HSA 23.1 2210 2220 17.6 22 KhGH-mHSA 33.2 3220 3260 26.8

As seen in Table 2, as for AUC, the AUC_(0-inf) for HSA-22KhGH and mHSA-22KhGH, which were produced by liking 22KhGH to the C terminus of human serum albumin, were 752±55 μg hr/mL, and 737 μg hr/mL, respectively. In contrast, the AUC_(0-inf) for 22KhGH-HSA and 22KhGH-mHSA, which were produced by linking 22KhGH to the N terminus of human serum albumin, were 2220 μg·hrs/mL and 3260 μg·hrs/mL, respectively. The result demonstrates the product produced by linking 22KhGH to the N terminus of human serum albumin is much more stable in the blood than the product produced by linking 22KhGH to the C terminus of human serum albumin. Further, HSA-22KhGH and mHSA-22KhGH, both produced by linking 22KhHG to the C terminus of human serum albumin were shown to have equivalent AUC_(0-inf) values, whereas in comparison with 22KhGH-HSA and 22KhGH-mHSA, which were produced by linking 22KhGH to the N terminus of human serum albumin, the AUC_(0-inf) value for 22KhGH-mHSA was shown to be as high as about 1.47 times that for 22KhGH-HSA, indicating that 22KhGH-mHSA is particularly stable in the blood.

The above results unexpectedly show that the stability of the resulting fusion protein in the blood varies greatly upon whether the N terminus of human growth hormone being linked to the C terminus of human serum albumin, or conversely the N terminus of human serum albumin being linked to the C terminus of human growth hormone, and far more greater stability can be achieved in the latter case. In addition, the results indicate that stability of human growth hormone in the blood is most particularly increased when the N terminus of HSA(A320T) is linked to the C terminus of human growth hormone, namely that HSA(A320T) has the capacity to remarkably increase the stability in the blood of a protein that is linked to its N terminus. Thus, taken together, the above results indicate that as a means to stabilize a variety of proteins to be administered to human and other mammals as a medicament, such as growth hormone or the like, it is effective to link such proteins with HSA(A320T), and in particular, to link their C terminus to the N terminus of HSA(A320T), via a peptide bond for example.

(3) Pharmacodynamic Analysis Using Cynomolgus Monkeys

FIG. 7 illustrates the result of pharmacodynamic analysis of the HSA-fused 22KhGH, in which the vertical axis represents the concentration of IGF-1, and the horizontal axis the time elapsed after administration of HSA-22KhGH fusion protein. IGF-1 is a polypeptide whose secretion is induced by growth hormone and having activities such as promotion of bone growth. Some of hGH's activities are known to be exhibited via IGF-1

As seen in FIG. 7 , in the animals that were administered HSA-22KhGH or mHSA-22KhGH, i.e., the products in which 22KhGH was linked to the C terminus of human serum albumin, the concentration of IGF-1 in the plasma showed the maximum value, 1.5 times as high as the value prior to administration, on the third day after administration in the case of HSA-22KhGH-administered animals, and in the case of HSA-m22KhGH-administered animals, the maximum value, about 2 times as high as the value prior to administration, on the second day after administration. Afterwards, however, the concentration of IGF-1 in plasma declined, and from the fifth day on after administration, it became comparable to the control 22KhGH, in both cases. Besides, as seen in FIG. 7 , the concentration of IFG-1 in plasma showed no notable increase after the administration of 22KhGH. This seems to be that because of the short half-life of 22KhGH in the blood, about 20 minutes, the concentration of IGF-1 had already returned to its value recorded before administration when the blood was sampled. Further, the concentration of IGF-1 in the plasma of 22hGH-administered animals increased on the second day and showed higher values up to the ninth day than the value recorded before administration. This seems to be an accumulated effect of 22KhGH, only which was administered 7 consecutive days.

On the other hand, as to the concentration of IGF-1 in the plasma of animals that were administered HSA-22KhGH or mHSA-22KhGH, i.e., the products in which 22KhGH was linked to human serum albumin on the N terminus, it showed the maximum value, about 2.0 times as high as the value prior to administration, on the seventh day after administration in the case of 22KhGH-HSA-administered animals, and also in the case of 22KhGH-mHSA-administered animals, the maximum value, about 2.0 times as high as the value prior to administration, on the seventh day after administration. Further, in both cases, the concentration of IGF-1 in the plasma was kept higher than that of the control 22KhGH, even on the ninth day after administration. Furthermore, comparison between HSA-22KhGH and mHSA-22KhGH shows that while the concentration of IGF-1 tended to be higher with HSA-22KhGH up to the third day after administration, the concentration of IFG-1 was consistently higher with mHSA-22KhGH from the fifth day on after administration. This indicates that mHSA-22KhGH can maintain the IGF-1 concentration in the blood at high values for a longer period than HSA-22KhGH.

These results show that the pharmacological effect of growth hormone can be greatly extended by linking it to the N terminus of HSA(A320T), which therefore indicates that 22KhGH-mHSA, the product obtained by linking the C terminus of growth hormone to the N terminus of HSA(A320T), can be preferably used as a long-lasting growth hormone whose pharmacological activity is kept longer than conventional growth hormone preparations (Gorwjec™, etc.). Moreover, the above results indicate that the activity of a physiologically active protein to be administered to an animal as a medicament or the like, can be greatly maintained in the plasma by linking it to the N terminus of HSA(A320T), and that linking a physiologically active protein to HSA(A320T) is an effective means to provide a long-lasting type medicament whose pharmacological activity lasts for a long period of time, and in particular, that it is effective to link the C terminus of a physiologically active protein to the N terminus of HSA(A320T) via a peptide bond.

Since the concentration of IGF-1 in plasma was maintained at very high levels even on the ninth day after administration as shown in the 22KhGH-mHSA-administered animals, it is reasonably expected that 22KhGH-mHSA would sufficiently exhibit its activity if administered at an interval of once in 7-14 days to such patient with growth hormone deficiency dwarfism, adult growth hormone deficiency, or the like. Table 3 shows examples of dosage of 22KhGH-mHSA when administered to patients with growth hormone deficiency dwarfism, adult growth hormone deficiency, or the like. The dose and dosing intervals shown in Table 3 should be adjusted as desired in accordance with clinical symptoms and results of examinations such as IGF-1 concentration. 22KhGH-mHSA is administered to a patient preferably in the form of intramuscular injection or subcutaneous injection.

[Table 3]

TABLE 3 Indications and dose of 22KhGH-mHSA Dose at a time Dosing Indications (mg/ kg body weight) intervals Growth hormone deficiency 0.01-0.7 7-14 days dwarfism accompanied by no epiphyseal closure Dwarfism in Turner syndrome 0.015-1.4  7-14 days accompanied by no epiphyseal closure Dwarfism by chronic renal failure 0.01-1.4 7-14 days accompanied by no epiphyseal closure Dwarfism in Prader-Willi syndrome 0.012-0.98 7-14 days accompanied by no epiphyseal closure Dwarfism in achondroplasia 0.015-1.4  7-14 days accompanied by no epiphyseal closure Dwarfism in SGA accompanied by 0.012-1.9  7-14 days no epiphyseal closure Adult growth hormone deficiency 0.001-0.34 7-14 days Consumption caused by AIDS 0.005-0.4  7-14 days

[Preparation Example 1] Aqueous Injection

Sodium hydrogen phosphate, heptahydrate 1.33 mg

Sodium dihydrogen phosphate 1.57 mg

Polyoxyethylene(160)polyoxypropylene(30)glycol 3 mg

Benzylalcohol 13.5 mg

D-mannitol 52.5 mg

22KhGH-mHSA 1 mg

The above ingredients are dissolved at their respective proportions in water for injection, and after pH adjustment to 6.0-6.4, made to volume of 1.5 mL to provide an aqueous injection.

[Preparation Example 2] Aqueous Injection

L-histidine 1 mg

Phenol 4.5 mg

Polyoxyethylene(160)polyoxypropylene(30)glycol 4.5 mg

D-mannitol 60 mg

22KhGH-mHSA 1 mg

The above ingredients are dissolved at their respective proportions in water for injection, and after pH adjustment to 6.0-6.4, made to volume of 1.5 mL to provide an aqueous injection.

[Preparation Example 3] Lyophilized Preparation

Sodium hydrogen phosphate, heptahydrate 2.475 mg

Sodium dihydrogen phosphate 0.394 mg

Sodium chloride 1.125 mg

Aminoacetic acid 11.25 mg

D-mannitol 22.5 mg

22KhGH-mHSA 1 mg

A lyophilized preparation of the above composition is dissolved in 1 mL of water for injection containing 9.7 mg of benzylalcohol.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As the present invention increase the stability in the blood of a protein of interest to be administered to an animal as a medicament, it enables provision of a new medicament that allows reduction of the dose of such a protein when administered.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   1 LacZ promoter -   2 mPGK promoter -   3 Partial sequence of internal ribosome entry site of wild-type     mouse encephalomyocarditis virus including the nucleotide sequence     set forth as SEQ ID NO:7 -   3 a Partial sequence of internal ribosome entry site mutant-type     mouse encephalomyocarditis virus including the nucleotide sequence     set forth as SEQ ID NO:8 -   4 Polyadenylation region of mPGK (mPGKpA) -   5 Nucleotide sequence containing EP-1p and its first intron -   6 SV40 late polyadenylation region -   7 Region containing SV40 early promoter -   8 Synthetic polyadenylation region -   9 Region containing cytomegalovirus promoter -   10 Glutamine synthetase gene

SEQUENCE LISTING FREE TEXT

-   SEQ ID NO:3: Human serum albumin mutant (A320T) -   SEQ ID NO:4: Example linker -   SEQ ID NO:5: Example linker -   SEQ ID NO:6: Example linker -   SEQ ID NO:8: Partial sequence of IRES from mutant-type murine     encephalomyocarditis virus, synthetic -   SEQ ID NO:11: 22KhGH-mHSA, mature -   SEQ ID NO:12: 20KhGH-mHSA, mature -   SEQ ID NO:13: Primer Hyg-Sfi5′, synthetic -   SEQ ID NO:14: Primer Hyg-BstX3′, synthetic -   SEQ ID NO:15: IRES-Hygr-mPGKpA, synthetic -   SEQ ID NO:16: Amino acid sequence corresponding to hygromycin     resistance gene -   SEQ ID NO:17: Primer IRES5′, synthetic -   SEQ ID NO:18: Primer IRES3′, synthetic -   SEQ ID NO:19: Primer mPGKP5′, synthetic -   SEQ ID NO:20: Primer mPGKP3′, synthetic -   SEQ ID NO:21: mPGKp, synthetic -   SEQ ID NO:22: Primer GS5′, synthetic -   SEQ ID NO:23: Primer GS3′, synthetic -   SEQ ID NO:24: Primer puro5′, synthetic -   SEQ ID NO:25: Primer puro3′, synthetic -   SEQ ID NO:26: Sequence containing puromycin resistance gene -   SEQ ID NO:27: Amino acid sequence corresponding to puromycin     resistance gene -   SEQ ID NO:28: Primer SV40polyA5′, synthetic -   SEQ ID NO:29: Primer SV40polyA3′, synthetic -   SEQ ID NO:30: Primer mIRES-GS5′, synthetic -   SEQ ID NO:31: Primer mIRES-GS3′, synthetic -   SEQ ID NO:32: HSA-22KhGH, mature -   SEQ ID NO:33: Sequence containing HSA-22KhGH gene, synthetic -   SEQ ID NO:34: mHSA-22KhGH, mature -   SEQ ID NO:35: Primer YA082, synthetic -   SEQ ID NO:36: Primer YA083, synthetic -   SEQ ID NO: 37:22KhGH-HSA, mature -   SEQ ID NO:38: Sequence containing 22KhGH-HSA gene, synthetic -   SEQ ID NO:39: 22KhGH-mHSA -   SEQ ID NO:40: Sequence of synthetic gene encoding hGHR ECD -   SEQ ID NO:41: Primer YA034, synthetic -   SEQ ID NO:42: Primer YA035, synthetic -   SEQ ID NO:43: Primer K708, synthetic -   SEQ ID NO:44: Primer K709, synthetic -   SEQ ID NO:45: Sequence of synthetic gene encoding hGHR, synthetic

SEQUENCE LISTING

-   GP187-PCT_ST25.txt 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A human serum albumin mutant-linked protein (A), the human serum albumin mutant linked protein (A) comprising a first polypeptide chain and a second polypeptide chain, wherein the first polypeptide chain comprises an amino acid sequence of the human serum albumin mutant, the human serum albumin mutant; (i) comprising an amino acid sequence, in comparison with the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:3, has not more than 10 amino acid residues deleted and/or has not more than 10 amino acid residues replaced, with the proviso that the asparagine residue occurring at position 318 and the threonine at position 320 numbered from the N-terminus of the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:3 are preserved and linked by peptide bonds via a single amino acid residue (X) except proline that is placed between those two amino acid residues, or (ii) consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:3, and the second polypeptide chain linked thereto comprises an amino acid sequence of the protein (A), the protein (A) being different from a human serum albumin that is a mutant or not, wherein a C-terminus of the second polypeptide chain is linked to a N-terminus of the first polypeptide chain by one or more peptide bonds.
 2. The human serum albumin mutant-linked protein (A) according to claim 1, wherein a link between the first polypeptide chain and the second polypeptide chain comprises peptide bonds with a linker.
 3. The human serum albumin mutant-linked protein (A) according to claim 2, wherein the linker consists of 1-50 amino acid residues.
 4. The human serum albumin mutant-linked protein (A) according to claim 2, wherein the linker consists of 1-6 amino acid residues.
 5. The human serum albumin mutant-linked protein (A) according to claim 2, wherein the linker is at least one selected from the group consisting of Gly-Ser, Gly-Gly-Ser, and the amino acid sequences set forth as SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5 and SEQ ID NO:6.
 6. The human serum albumin mutant-linked protein (A) according to claim 2, wherein the linker comprises an amino acid sequence Gly-Ser.
 7. The human serum albumin mutant-linked protein (A) according to claim 1, wherein the protein (A) is a protein that exhibits a physiological activity when administered to a living body.
 8. The human serum albumin mutant-linked protein (A) according to claim 1, wherein the protein (A) is selected from the group consisting of α-L-iduronidase, iduronate-2-sulfatase, glucocerebrosidase, β-galactosidase, GM2 activator protein, β-hexosaminidase A, β-hexosaminidase B, N-acetylglucosamin-1-phosphotransferase, α-mannosidase, β-mannosidase, galactosylceramidase, saposin C, arylsulfatase A, α-L-fucosidase, aspartylglucosaminidase, α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase, acid sphingomyelinase, α-galactosidase, β-glucuronidase, heparan sulfate N-sulfatase, α-Nacetylglucosaminidase, acetyl-CoA:α-glucosaminide N-acetyltransferase, N-acetylglucosamin-6-sulfate sulfatase, acid ceramidase, amylo-1,6-glucosidase, and CLN1 to 10, PD-1 ligands, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), insulin, prolactin, motilin, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH), thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), parathyroid hormone (PTH), thrombopoietin, stem cell factor (SCF), leptin, vasopressin, oxytocin, calcitonin, glucagon, gastrin, secretin, pancreozymin, cholecystokinin, angiotensin, angiostatin, endostatin, human placental lactogen (HPL), human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), enkephalin, endorphin, interferon α, interferon β, interferon γ, interleukin 2, thymopoietin, thymostimulin, thymus humoral factor (THF), serum thymic factor (FTS), thymosin, thymic factor X, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), urokinase, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), dynorphin, bombesin, neurotensin, caerulein, bradykinin, asparaginase, kallikrein, substance P, nerve growth factor (NGF), ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial cell derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), neurotrophin 3, neurotrophin 4/5, neurotrophin 6, neuregulin 1, activin, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), megakaryocyte growth and development factor (MGDF), blood coagulation factor VII, blood coagulation factor VIII, blood coagulation factor IX, superoxide dismutase (SOD), lysozyme chloride, polymyxin B, colistin, gramicidin, bacitracin, gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), growth hormone releasing factor (GRF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), erythropoietin, somatostatin, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), 20K growth hormone, 22K growth hormone, and a salt or mutant of thereof.
 9. The human serum albumin mutant-linked protein (A) according to claim 1, wherein the protein (A) is 22K growth hormone.
 10. The human serum albumin mutant-linked protein (A) according to claim 1, wherein the protein (A) is 20K growth hormone.
 11. The human serum albumin mutant-linked protein (A) according to claim 10, wherein the human serum albumin mutant-linked protein (A) consists of the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:12.
 12. An expression vector comprising a gene encoding the human serum albumin mutant-linked protein (A) according to claim
 1. 13. A mammalian cell transformed with the vector according to claim
 12. 